Lynn Hernan reportedly died from eye drops poison by her friend and caretaker Jessy Kurczewski who reportedly stole her money as well. Her biography, and what happened to her explored.
Jessy Kurczewski is accused of poisoning her friend with eye drops and has now pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
Lynn Hernan, 62, was found dead in October 2018, and about $290k was stolen from her.
Since suspect Jessy was arrested, she has denied all of the charges brought against her for Hernan’s death.
While the Defense says Hernan died by suicide and gave the money willingly, Prosecutors have claimed it’s a case of ‘murder, greed, and lies’.
Here’s everything we know about Lynn Hernan and how she died.
Who was Lynn Hernan?
Lynn Hernan was a 62-year-old woman and a Pewaukee resident.
Details about her parents, siblings, other family members, origin, and more are unknown.
Also, whether she was married or in a relationship has remained undisclosed.
Nothing is known of her being a mother, hence, no records can be said about her son or daughter.
She was recognized for her reserved demeanor and her enduring struggle with multiple health challenges over the years.
Yet, her life took a sinister twist in October 2018 when a shocking revelation emerged, provoking intense scrutiny and a thorough investigation.
Her caretaker and friend she had known for over decades is currently accused of murdering her and after 5 years of the unfortunate scene, the suspected murderer is standing trial which is underway.
What happened to Lynn Hernan?
Lynn Hernan died on October 3, 2018.
She was found unresponsive in her home in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, 20 minutes west of downtown Milwaukee.
A few months before her death, medical examiners discovered she had a chemical, which is the main ingredient found in eye drops – in her system.
An online obituary, shared on Legacy, revealed that Hernan “lived more life in her first 40 years than most people do in a lifetime.”
Prosecutors allege Jessy Kurczewski poisoned Hernan with tetrahydrozoline and staged her homicide to appear as a suicide.
On the victim’s day of death, it was initially believed she died from a prescription drug overdose.
At a later date, an autopsy report discovered lethal amounts of tetrahydrozoline, the main ingredient found in most eye drop medications, in her system.
Police reports seen by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said cops swooped on Hernan’s home after receiving reports that she wasn’t breathing.
Kurczewski had allegedly told officers that her friend had been acting strangely in the week leading up to finding her unresponsive body.
She said that she had been caring for Hernan, visiting her between two and three times per day, according to the police docs.
She told officers her friend may have been suicidal, per police documents.
Christopher Rozenberger, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Deputy, told the court: “We were dispatched to a suicide.
When Kurczewski was arrested in July 2019, she reportedly told officers that Hernan was known for eyedrops, per The Journal Sentinel.
She made the claim after cops had revealed the results of the toxicology report.
Her defense team has strongly denied the murder allegations.
Defense attorney Pablo Galaviz told the court: “Lynn loved Jessy.”
Prosecutors have also claimed that Kurczewski swindled funds from Hernan.
Assistant District Attorney Randy Sitzberger claimed: “This is a case of murder, greed, and lies.”
He said: “Lynn Hernan became worth more dead than alive to Jessy Kurczewski.”
Prosecutors have claimed that Kurczewski stole more than $144,000 from her friend.
And, they alleged that Kurczewski withdrew thousands of dollars in Hernan’s name.
The total value of the alleged fraud was less than $300,000.
Sitzberger claimed that Hernan had just over $100 when she died.
Kurczewski faces a raft of charges, including allegations of first-degree intentional homicide.
She has also been charged with theft of moveable property of more than $10,000.
Kurczewski has also been charged with theft of moveable property between $10,000 and $100,000, according to court records.
A murder trial is underway – five years after Hernan was found dead – and Kurczewski has denied killing her friend.