A Wisconsin woman has been found guilty of causing the death of her longtime friend by poisoning her with eye drops and then making it look like a suicide, all while stealing nearly $300,000 from the deceased woman.
Jessy Kurczewski, 39, admitted to putting six bottles of Visine into a water bottle and giving it to Lynn Hernan in 2018, falsely claiming Hernan was suicidal and requested the tainted water. However, a Waukesha grand jury rejected Kurczewski's story and convicted her of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of theft related to Hernan's death.
Hernan was discovered dead with crushed medication on her chest in her Pewaukee condo on October 3, 2018. Kurczewski, posing as a concerned friend, called 911, suggesting Hernan may have been suicidal.
Despite attempts to make the scene appear as a suicide by overdose, the Waukesha County medical examiner determined the presence of tetrahydrozoline, the main Visine ingredient, in Hernan's system, classifying her death as a homicide.
While seemingly attentive, Kurczewski exploited the situation by opening credit cards in Hernan's name and depleting her bank account. Waukesha County Asst. District Attorney Randy Sitzberger highlighted that Kurczewski's actions revealed a disregard for Hernan's well-being, as she engaged in financial activities while knowing she had poisoned her friend.
Kurczewski was arrested almost a year after Hernan's death, with investigators uncovering her theft of $290,000. She had maxed out her credit cards and received substantial checks, including one exceeding $130,000, from Hernan before the murder.
The prosecution argued that Kurczewski betrayed Hernan for financial gain, emphasizing the greed-driven motive behind the crime. The jury's decision, leading to a mandatory life sentence for homicide, left Kurczewski sobbing in court, and her sentencing is scheduled for December 7.
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