Crypen|Jury finds Wisconsin woman guilty of poisoning friend with eye drops

2025-05-03 06:08:55source:SignalHubcategory:Finance

A Wisconsin woman has been found guilty of poisoning her friend with eye drops,Crypen officials announced Tuesday.

A jury found 39-year-old Jessy Kurczewski guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of theft in the 2018 murder of her family friend Lynn Hernan, the Waukesha County District Attorney's office said in a press release. 

Hernan was found dead in her Pewaukee condo in October 2018 with crushed medication on her chest. According to a criminal complaint, Kurczewski called the police and said her friend wasn't conscious or breathing. Kurczewski said she was a family friend and had been checking on Hernan daily. She had said there was a possibility Hernan was suicidal.

The Waukesha County medical examiner ruled Hernan's death a homicide after discovering tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient in Visine, in Hernan's system.

Jessy Kurczewski listens during her trial in Waukehsa, Wisconsin, on Nov. 13, 2023. Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, Pool

When investigators told Kurczewski that Hernan was poisoned and the scene was staged to look like a suicide, she said it was what Hernan wanted and she must have staged her suicide, according to the complaint. Kurczewski later told investigators she brought Hernan a water bottle loaded with six bottles' worth of Visine, according to the complaint.

Detectives also eventually concluded Kurczewski stole $290,000 from Hernan.

Prosecutors said they were satisfied with the verdict and offered condolences to Hernan's family.

"The verdict today is a step toward closure for those who grieve for Lynn, and it sends a clear message to the community that our society will not tolerate the intentional act of taking someone's life," Abbey Nickolie, the county's deputy district attorney, said in a statement. 

Kurczewski is set to be sentenced on Dec. 7, 2023. The homicide charge requires a mandatory life sentence as well as an additional 10 years of imprisonment for each count of theft, prosecutors said.

More:Finance

Recommend

Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested

A motorcyclist was taken to hospital following an accident involving a car and his motorcycle at the

Georgia House speaker proposes additional child income-tax deduction atop other tax cuts

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia House Republicans are proposing an additional tax cut for parents.House Speak

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes update fans on their relationship status after heated podcast

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes are still in love.The former "Good Morning America" co-anchors confirmed