State: Fake suicide plot written by eye-drop killer
A 37-page letter, written to a friend named Jessica and obtained by the state and Waukesha County Sheriff's Office, appears to show instructions on how to fake a tape recording explaining the victim died by suicide.
A 37-page letter, written to a friend named Jessica and obtained by the state and Waukesha County Sheriff's Office, appears to show instructions on how to fake a tape recording explaining the victim died by suicide.
A 37-page letter, written to a friend named Jessica and obtained by the state and Waukesha County Sheriff's Office, appears to show instructions on how to fake a tape recording explaining the victim died by suicide.
Jessy Kurczewski was found guilty of killing her friend, Lynn Hernan, by poisoning her with Visine in Pewaukee in 2018.
"We, the jury find defendant Jessy Kurczewski guilty of first-degree intentional homicide," the verdict was read on Nov. 14.
Kurczewski was also found guilty of two counts of theft.
Now, a 37-page letter, written to a friend named Jessica and obtained by the state and Waukesha County Sheriff's Office, appears to show instructions on how to fake a tape recording explaining Hernan died by suicide. The letter, the state says was written by Kurczewski on her own trial notes, explains to the recipient, "I know this is crazy, but I gotta try..."
It goes on to tell the person to make a tape recording, sounding like Hernan, and tells her the exact words to say. The letter explains how to sound like Hernan, saying she has an "older, raspy, smokers cough and was sick, female voice." It adds, "You could even have a movie or music on in the background to help distract..."
The directions of what to say last three pages and end with a plan to stop the recording "like she screwed up."
"I chose to drink Visine and end my life..." one of the sentences states.
"It was a suicide. It looked like a suicide. For Dr. B to say a year later that the scene looked staged, how can we wrap our heads around that?" defense attorney Donna Jean Kuchler said to the jury during closing arguments on Nov. 13.
Kurczewski's legal team claimed Hernan took her own life. However, the medical examiner ruled Hernan's death a homicide, calling the crime scene staged.
Now, Kuchler and Kurczewski's other attorney, Pablo Galaviz, want to withdraw their representation.
In his motion, Galaviz cited a state statute that his representation "will result in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law."
Kuchler, in a letter written to the judge in the case, asked the judge to sign withdrawal before sentencing Thursday.
"If it was not clear from our motion, I believe I am duty-bound to withdraw from this case," she wrote.
"My own interests in protecting my law license of 27 years are at issue here. If the court proceeds with the sentencing hearing, I will remain silent," she later added.
Kuchler's office declined to comment Tuesday. Galaviz could not be reached for comment.
The state, in a motion filed Tuesday, wants the judge to keep both lawyers for Kurczewski. The state says hiring new counsel will take too long for both Kurczewski and the victim's family. The state also says it will argue the letter was authored by Kurczewski, despite her continually denying writing them.
A hearing on whether or not to keep Kurczewski's lawyers and her sentencing will both be held Thursday afternoon in Waukesha County Court.