The Wisconsin woman convicted of fatally poisoning her friend with eye drops and stealing $290,000 from her, was sentenced to life in jail Friday as the victim’s loved ones chillingly warned that the “Devil awaits.”
Jessy Kurczewski remained relatively emotionless in a Waukesha, Wisc. courtroom when Judge Jennifer Dorow read the sentencing order — crying only when she made a nearly two-hour-long testimony.
Kurczewski, 40, was found guilty of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide in November for the Oct. 2018 killing of her friend Lynn Hernan.
She is eligible for a supervised release after 30 years.
“I think the criteria that I have when I think of about, not only the seriousness of the offense but the need to protect the public, that’s one of the key factors here,” Dorow said, according to WISN.
“That would make you, without the theft charges, close to 70 years of age, older than what Lynn would be today. Physically older, I think 30 years is a pretty significant amount of time,” Dorow said. “But my target is really 80 for you. That is why on counts two and three, you are going to serve maximum sentences, consecutive to count one and consecutive to each other.
The convicted murderer was handed the maximum sentences for the two counts of theft she was convicted of, and sentenced to 5 years in prison and 5 years of extended supervision for both charges.
“I think to do anything other than that given your prior forgery, misappropriation felony convictions, and your ‘lack of a good track record’ while on extended supervision would be to underly appreciate the seriousness of those offenses.”
Dorow said the goal was to keep Kurczewski in prison until she was old enough not to be a threat to anyone.
“There’s really not anyone who’s safe from you when it comes to your willingness to steal, to defraud.”
Dorow added that Kurczeweski had crafted fake documents, covered up her tracks and justified her motives before blaming others when she was caught.
During his victim impact statement, one of Hernan’s friends called Kurczewski a monster and the sentences were too lenient.
“Your Honor, Jessy cruelly murdered my friend, Lynn Hernan. I’d like the court to sentence Jessy to life in prison no chance of parole, ever. If Wisconsin had the death penalty I would be asking you for that,” James Keliher said to the court, according to Court TV.
Keliher claimed Kurczewski was also responsible for the deaths of Hernan’s several cats and dogs.
The emotional friend also claimed Hernan inherited money from her parents and Jessy took advantage of Hernan’s helpfulness.
“Jessy had other plans, she looked up online how to kill someone and not get caught. I believe Jessy started poisoning Lynn in 2016 and stealing Lynn’s money and her property. Jessy poisoned Lynn like she was a rodent.
Kurczewski, 39, confessed to dumping six bottles of Visine into a water bottle which she then gave to Hernan in 2018.
The beautician was found dead with crushed medication on her chest in her Pewaukee condo on Oct. 3, 2018.
Kurczewski had called 911 and said her family friend was not breathing and believed she may have been suicidal.
“Lynn was not a junkie or a coward, that was Jessy. She continued to poison Lynn until she passed away.
“Jessy’s pure evil, the Devil lives inside her,” Keliher said. “She tried to steal Lynn’s identity which could never happen because of the simple fact that she is too damn ugly.”
Medical examiners ruled Hernan’s death a homicide after finding tetrahydrozoline, the main ingredient in Visine, in her system.
“She’s the worst of humanity, she’s a useless human being, she’s a known liar she’s a thief and now she’s a convicted murderer,” Kelliher added
“Jessy when you get to your new home I hope you’re taken advantage of and treated like you treated Lynn and passed around like a used piece of meat.
“Life in prison without parole is the least of your worries. Women’s prison is gonna feel like a Holiday Inn compared to where you’re headed. The Devil awaits you, I hope you rot in hell.”
