After a deceased woman's toxicology report showed an abnormality — a chemical compound found in several brands of over-the-counter eye drops — suspicions grow over her caregiver's story.
In October 2023, in the courtroom of Judge Jennifer Dorow, 39-year-old Jessy Kurczewski went on trial for the intentional homicide of 62-year-old Lynn Hernan, along with two counts of felony theft for stealing from Hernan — someone who'd always thought of Kurczewski as a beloved friend. Five years earlier, Kurczewski called police and told them she found Hernan dead, sitting in her recliner, in the living room of her Pewaukee, Wisconsin condo.
There was a substance that I was — unusual … an unusual finding that I hadn't seen in a report from their, uh, facility before. It was, uh, called tetrahydrozoline.Dr. Biedrzycki began her own research on tetrahydrozoline, a drug found in some over-the-counter eye drops.DR. These are all the drugs that were found in Ms. Hernan … right?DR.
Your conclusion was that she died from the tetrahydrozoline, right?DR. I wasn't there.On redirect, Deputy D.A. Nickolie asked about the powder found on and near Hernan's body.ABBEY NICKOLIE : What do you think happened?DR. Yes. … She contacted our office looking for an update.Prosecutors introduced video of that meeting with Detective Kohl. He testified that five months after Hernan died, before the medical examiner had ruled on the cause of death, Kurczewski came to the sheriff's department with her mother, Jennifer Flower, asking questions.
So you've known her your whole life? And that's kinda — that's why you were helping her out? Yes.Detective Nathan Plennes testified about the investigation into Hernan's finances. Prosecutors alleged Kurczewski stole more than $200,000 from Hernan before and after she died. And in the course of their investigation, detectives discovered a bombshell: Kurczewski had a criminal record. In 2011, Kurczewski was convicted on charges of identity theft and forgery and sentenced to eight years.
This is the initial interview that was conducted with Ms. Kurczewski once the warrants were conducted on July 9th.Detective Aaron Hoppe, the lead investigator in the case, and Detective Chris Kohl, interviewed Kurczewski. Hoppe watched portions of that interview along with the jurors.DET. No. No, there was nothing. No, nothing like that. … I mean, there was no, you know, one day, 'oh, here's a check.' One day, 'here's my card, go get this,' One day—I mean, it was no, no set —DET.
And what would that be? DET. She used eye drops all the time.DET. Are you serious?DET. I swear to God, I didn't — I did not. DET. 'I have traces of tetrahydrozoline in my blood DET. 'u can die from that'JESSY KURCZEWSKI'S CHANGING EXPLANATIONS ABBEY NICKOLIE: Detective Hoppe, I think you testified you spoke again with Ms. Kurczewski?DET.
Because that's what she did. DET. Because I didn't want to tell you guys because you guys are making it sound like it happened the day of, and that's not when she was doing that. Stephanie Rodriguez: But Jessy says she never gave Lynn Hernan any Visine.DET. She was looking for her way out.Kurczewski vehemently denied helping Hernan die.
The Visine.And Kurczewski now said that Hernan actually did drink Visine the day she died. Kurczewski claimed that when she visited Hernan that morning, Kurczewski knew that Hernan had poured six bottles of Visine into her own water bottle. Yep.DET. And then you gave in? I didn't do it to her, though. I didn't .It would be 23 months later that Jessy Kurczewski was charged with Lynn Hernan's death.When it was the defense's turn, Kurczewski's attorneys focused almost solely on their claim that Hernan died by suicide by drinking Visine.Gary Verdin, a friend of Kurczewski 's mother, testified he'd been in Hernan's condo twice, the second time about a year before her death. Yet his memory of the visit was clear.
would say her past medical history was very significant. … She had a very long list of medical conditions and, uh, also had quite a few psychiatric disorders. … depression, anxiety, agoraphobia — which is fear of public places … chronic insomnia. Those were the ones that were listed in her medical records.Dr. Thomas testified she agreed with the state's conclusion that Lynn's medical problems contributed to her death.
The state has not proven a first-degree intentional homicide.
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