Pewaukee eye drop poisoning homicide trial, jury selected
PEWAUKEE, Wis. - A jury was selected in the Waukesha County trial of Jessy Kurczewski, accused of killing her friend with poisoned eye drops, on Monday, Oct. 23. Opening statements will begin Tuesday.
It's a case that dates back to 2018. A Pewaukee woman's death was thought to be a drug overdose until toxicology reports came back and found high levels of tetrahydrozoline, a drug found in eye drops, in the victim's blood.
Prosecutors accuse the now-39-year-old Kurczewski of poisoning the victim – a friend she was caring for at the time – and stealing tens of thousands of dollars from her.
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Kurczewski called 911 on Oct. 3, 2018 and said the victim was unconscious and not breathing. A deputy found the woman laying in a recliner with crushed medication on and around her – as well as prescription bottles.
Court filings said Kurczewski told investigators the victim didn't have any family, and she would check on her two to three times a day. Kurczewski was the victim's power of attorney.
A friend of the victim told investigators he didn't believe it was a drug overdose – and thought Kurczewski and her mom were involved. In January 2019, the medical examiner said the victim had a fatal dose of the main ingredient found in eye drops, and there shouldn't be any of the drug in the woman's blood – adding it was "impossible to have that level...in the blood just by using it in the eyes." At that point the investigation was reopened, and Kurczewski was arrested in July 2019.
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Court documents said in interviews with investigators, Kurczewski said the victim must have staged a suicide, denied hearing of Visine poisoning, said the victim had tried to kill herself before, and then that she ultimately gave the woman a water bottle with six Visine bottles in it.
Investigators believe Kurczewski stole nearly $300,000 from the victim, spending tens of thousands of dollars at two casinos.
Kurczewski is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of felony theft.