By Ivy Brown
WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wisc. (Court TV) — A Wisconsin woman is facing life in prison if convicted of killing a friend in her care by poisoning her with eye drops.
Jessy Kurczewski, 39, is charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of felony theft in the 2018 death of Lynn Hernan.
FILE – Jessy Kurczewski (Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office)
Prosecutors say Kurczewski killed Hernan, who she was caring for, and staged the scene to look like a suicide by drug overdose.
Hernan reportedly died after drinking a water bottle mixed with 6 bottles of Visine. Kurczewski told police Hernan was suicidal and “had been trying to kill herself by drinking Visine in vodka,” according to a criminal complaint.
Investigators say, in total, Kurczewski stole $290,210.06 from Hernan before and after her death.
Hernan died Oct. 3, 2018. Kurczewski was arrested July 9, 2019.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 27 in Waukesha County. Judge Jennifer Dorow, who presided over the trial of Darrell E. Brooks, is presiding over the case.
Court TV will cover the trial gavel-to-gavel on CourtTV.com.