Day 4 of the eye drop murder trial of Jessy Kurczewski, 39, is set to begin in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Kurczewski, a Franklin woman, is accused of poisoning and killing Lynn Hernan, a family friend, with eye drops. Prosecutors allege that Kurczewski committed the crime out of greed. Dr. Linda Biedrzycki from the Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s Office testified on Wednesday, discussing the toxicology report that indicated Tetrahydrozoline poisoning as the cause of Hernan’s death. The trial will continue with Dr. Biedrzycki’s testimony on Thursday.
During the trial, Attorney Jonathan Lavoy provided insight into the importance of establishing the cause of death and how it will impact the jurors’ perception of the case. Kurczewski has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of felony theft. Prosecutors claim that she defrauded Hernan of nearly $300,000, including money from her estate. Kurczewski’s defense team argues that Hernan was aware of the financial transactions and had her own struggles with depression, alcohol, and prescription medication.
Witnesses, including law enforcement officers and Tabitha Kukes, a former Waukesha County Assistant Medical Examiner, testified on Tuesday. The case initially began as a possible drug overdose, but suspicions arose due to inconsistencies and concerns about the victim’s estate leaving everything to Kurczewski. The medical examiner’s toxicology report later revealed a lethal amount of tetrahydrozoline in Hernan’s blood, leading to the determination of homicide.
