On Tuesday, the trial began for a Wisconsin woman who allegedly killed her disabled friend in 2018 by poisoning her with eye drops.
According to WTMJ, prosecutors said greed motivated Jessy Kurczewski, 39, to kill Lynn Hernan, 61, as she stole nearly $290,000 from her over time. While the defense claimed Hernan was depressed, self-medicating with alcohol, and had medications in her system when she died, prosecutors claim Kurczewski killed Hernan with eye drops.
“She finally gave that water bottle, knowing it had, in the defendant’s estimation, six bottles of Visine to Lynn Hernan, knowing it could kill her, and walks out of that condo unit, closes the door, and goes shopping on Lynn’s dime,” Assistant District Attorney Randy Sitzberger said.
Hernan’s death was initially treated as an overdose. Hernan, who had health issues for several years, was found unresponsive with medication crushed on her chest and prescription bottles nearby, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
However, an autopsy revealed that she was killed by tetrahydrozoline — and there was so much of the decongestant in her blood that it could not have come from applying it to her eyes.
Sitzbeger told the court that because Hernan hated technology and primarily used cash, she was unable to keep up with the purchases Kurczewski was making without her consent. He claimed Kurczewski started stealing from Hernan in 2016.
Hernan reportedly died with $100 to her name, even though her estate was estimated to be worth $150,000. Kurczewski allegedly had control over Hernan’s estate, which she told $87,000 from after her death. Witnesses told law enforcement that they were suspicious as to whether Kurczewski legally had control of Hernan’s estate, according to WTMJ.
Kurczewski allegedly told detectives that Hernan had been “acting odd” before her death and she was concerned she was suicidal. However, the former deputy medical examiner who oversaw the case testified that Kurczewski repeatedly called the office asking for Hernan’s cause and manner of death, WITI reported.
In 2021, Kurczewski was charged with killing Hernan and stealing from her estate. The trial is expected to last several weeks.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Featured image: Jessy Kurczewski/Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office]
