Wisconsin Woman Who Killed Friend With Eye Drops Faces Life in Prison After Sentencing Delay

Jessy Kurczewski, a Wisconsin woman convicted of killing her friend Lynn Hernan with eye drops, was scheduled to be sentenced in April 2024 after a series of unexpected legal developments delayed the hearing.

Kurczewski was found guilty in November 2023 of first-degree intentional homicide and two felony theft counts in connection with Hernan’s 2018 death. Prosecutors argued that she poisoned Hernan with tetrahydrozoline, a chemical found in certain over-the-counter eye drops, and attempted to make the death appear to be a suicide.

Hernan was found unresponsive in her Pewaukee condominium in October 2018. Investigators later discovered a high level of tetrahydrozoline in her system, and the medical examiner classified her death as a homicide.

During the investigation, Kurczewski reportedly told police that she had brought Hernan a bottle of water containing the equivalent of six bottles of eye drops. Prosecutors also alleged that Kurczewski stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from her friend.

The sentencing hearing was initially scheduled for December 2023 but was postponed after Kurczewski’s attorneys withdrew from the case over potential conflicts of interest. The legal changes continued into January 2024, when additional attorneys were permitted to withdraw and a new lawyer was appointed.

Kurczewski faced a mandatory life sentence for the homicide conviction, along with additional prison time for the theft charges. Her case drew national attention because of the unusual poisoning method and the financial allegations surrounding her relationship with Hernan.

On April 5, 2024, Kurczewski was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years on the homicide conviction. She also received two consecutive five-year sentences for the theft convictions, meaning she would not be eligible for parole for approximately 40 years.

Kurczewski continued to maintain her innocence at sentencing, insisting that Hernan had died by suicide. Her conviction and sentence marked the conclusion of a case that had remained under investigation for years.

Source:  Jsonline