Woman Poisoned Friend To Death With Eyedrops: Complaint

WAUKESHA, WI—A Milwaukee County woman was charged on Friday with killing her friend in Pewaukee by poisoning her with eyedrops in 2018 and also stealing money from her, according to a criminal complaint.

Jessy Kurczewski, 37, of Franklin was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of felony theft. Kurczewski made her initial appearance in Waukesha County Circuit Court on Monday. Cash bond was set at $1 million. She is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on June 25.

On Oct. 3, 2018, Kurczewski called police about her friend who wasn't breathing. The complaint doesn't name the victim, but according to a WISN report, online estate records identified her as Lynn A. Hernan.

Waukesha County Sheriff's deputy found a woman in a recliner with crushed up medication on her chest and a plate with crushed up medication, the complaint said.

At first an overdose was suspected, the complaint said.

Police learned Kurczewski had been providing care to the victim and had access to her home, the complaint said.

The county medical examiner's report said she had a fatal dose of of tetrahydrozoline – the main ingredient in eyedrops – in her system, the complaint said.

In July 2019, a search warrant of Kurczewski’s home was conducted and she was arrested. She later admitted to police she gave her friend a water bottle with six eyedrop bottles in it, the complaint said.

In addition, the complaint said Kurczewski committed $290,210 in fraud, including more than $130,000 transferred fraudulently from the victim to her, the complaint said.