Jessy Kurczewsk
"48 Hours" contributor Jericka Duncan delves into the mystery surrounding Hernan in "Death By Eye Drops," airing Saturday, April 20 at 10/9c on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+.
Witnesses present at the incident suggested that Hernan may have succumbed to an accidental overdose or had taken her own life. The scene revealed scattered prescription pills on the floor and crushed medications on a plate near Hernan's lifeless body.
Controversy Surrounds Investigation into Hernan's Death
Following the tragic death of Hernan, doubts have started to emerge regarding Kurczewski, the individual closely associated with the deceased. Authorities from the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department uncovered Kurczewski's criminal past, which included a prison sentence for forgery and identity theft. Released in 2016, Kurczewski was apprehended in July 2019 on a probation and parole hold for questioning, with the interrogation sessions being recorded.
During the interviews, Kurczewski mentioned that Hernan had been consuming numerous medications, some of which had been discontinued, and spending significant amounts of money. When questioned about eye drops found in Hernan's system, Kurczewski claimed Hernan frequently used them. However, the medical examiner's suspicion that the eye drops were ingested, not just absorbed, led to Kurczewski vehemently denying any involvement in giving Hernan the drops to drink.
The following day, Kurczewski altered her statement, alleging that Hernan had expressed a desire to end her life. According to Kurczewski, Hernan had experimented with drinking Visine mixed with vodka multiple times, indicating suicidal tendencies. Kurczewski remarked, "She was looking for her way out," shedding a new light on the circumstances surrounding Hernan's demise.
Following a series of interviews with detectives, Kurczewski revealed shocking details about Hernan's habits and the events leading up to her death.
Kurczewski disclosed that Hernan had been consuming Visine mixed with vodka for months, creating a cocktail that she believed helped her relax and sleep. Despite Kurczewski's attempts to persuade Hernan to stop, she always gave in to Hernan's wishes.
On the day of Hernan's death, Kurczewski claimed that Hernan had poured six bottles of Visine into a water bottle after an argument. Kurczewski eventually handed the bottle to Hernan before leaving to run errands, unaware of how much Visine Hernan had consumed.
Subsequent investigations into Kurczewski's actions revealed financial irregularities, with authorities discovering that a significant portion of Hernan's assets had been transferred to Kurczewski or accounts under her control, which were then drained.
During June of 2021, Kurczewski faced charges of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of theft for taking money from Hernan both before and after her passing. Prosecutors claimed that Kurczewski had made over $200,000 from Hernan since 2016 and had purposely poisoned Hernan with eye drops in an attempt to end her life once her funds had depleted.
Despite the accusations, Kurczewski maintained her innocence, expressing her love for Hernan. Her defense attorneys argued that Hernan had willingly given Kurczewski money as gifts or in return for assistance. The trial, covered by "48 Hours," took place in October 2023.
