A Wisconsin jury convicted Jessy Kurczewski, dubbed the Eye Drop Killer, of first-degree intentional homicide, among other charges. After deliberating for over two days, the jury read the verdict on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. She was also found guilty of two counts of felony theft, as per ABC News. The charges stemmed from Lynn Hernan’s 2018 death from eye drop poisoning.
Police reportedly arrested and charged Kurczewski in June 2021. They accused her of spiking the victim’s water bottle with a fatal dose of over-the-counter eye drops. The suspect also faced theft charges for defrauding the latter of nearly $300,000 in the two years leading up to her death.
The outlet reported that Kurczewski, who was Hernan’s caretaker at the time, found the 62-year-old unconscious. She was sitting in her living recliner on October 3, 2018, next to a table filled with prescription pills. She also had what looked like crushed medication on her chest. Police initially ruled it a drug overdose until a toxicology report proved otherwise.
Eye Drop Killer Jessy Kurczewski found guilty in 2018 murder case
Eye Drop Killer Jessy Kurczewski’s conviction comes five years after she poisoned Lynn Hernan. Kurczewski, the victim’s friend and caretaker, called the police and told them that she found Hernan dead on October 3, 2018. According to CBS News, she found the 62-year-old unresponsive and not breathing at her Pewaukee condo. The former allegedly also told police that Hernan was suicidal due to her worsening health conditions.
The ABC report noted police initially ruled Harnan’s death to be an overdose. However, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office resumed investigating the matter about three months later. Following this, a toxicological report showed that the woman died of a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline, the main ingredient in over-the-counter eye drops, such as Visine.
After this crucial discovery, investigators told Kurczewski about the new-found evidence. They alleged that someone poisoned Hernan and staged the scene to make it seem like a suicide. Kurczewski’s shocking response was that the victim likely staged her suicide. She later admitted to bringing Hernan a water bottle infused with six bottles’ worth of Visine, which was stated in the same CBS report.
Detectives later concluded that Kurczewski stole $290,000 from Hernan. Following her June 2021 arrest, they charged her with first-degree intentional murder and felony theft. Years later, on November 14, 2023, a jury found the 37-year-old guilty of the charges. Deputy district attorney Abbey Nickolie said, “The verdict today is a step toward closure for those who grieve for Lynn.”
Nickolie further stated, “It sends a clear message to the community that our society will not tolerate the intentional act of taking someone’s life.”
Jessy Kurczewski’s sentencing date is set for December 7, 2023.
