A Wisconsin woman who killed her friend for financial gain will spend decades behind bars.
Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow sentenced Jessy Kurczewski to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the death of Lynn Hernan, 61. After a three-week trial, Kurczewski was found guilty and convicted by a jury of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of felony theft.
“You took away future memories, birthdays, luncheons, phone calls. I think you thought you were a very good thief and could get away with even more. I think you’re completely diabolical. You have evil in your heart,” said the judge during the sentencing hearing, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
In 2018, the defendant, who was Hernan’s caretaker, was accused of killing the victim using eye drops. According to prosecutors, Kurczewski was only one of two individuals named in the victim’s will. However, authorities established that the defendant was greedy and stole nearly $300,000 from Hernan.
After Hernan’s death, autopsy results showed the cause of death was due to a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline.
During the trial, Kurczewski’s lawyer, Donna Kuchler, argued the victim had taken her own life and had full knowledge of the defendant spending her money.
"When somebody takes too many pills, the combination together can create exactly what happened here. Everyone at the scene concluded it was suicide. Ladies and gentlemen, it was a suicide. It looked like a suicide," said Kuchler during the closing arguments, reported TMJ4.
In addition, Kurczewski claimed Hernan had allegedly written a suicide note that indicated the victim’s desire to drink vicine to end her life. The defendant continued to maintain her innocence.
Dorow sentenced Kurczewski to five years for each of the felony theft convictions, and she was ordered to pay $386,000 in restitution. Kurczewski will serve them consecutively and be eligible for parole after 40 years.
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