Eye drop murder trial begins with jury selection

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The eye drop murder trial is underway.

On Monday, Oct. 22 the state's case against a Franklin woman accused of killing a friend with eye drops began with jury selection.

Jessy Kurczewski is charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide for allegedly killing a Pewaukee woman in 2018.

She also faces two counts of theft for allegedly stealing over $290,000 from the victim, who has yet to be identified in court records or open court. Investigators believe Kurczewski used money she allegedly stole from the victim to gamble at Wisconsin casinos.

In 2018, Kurczewski called 911, claiming she found her friend unconscious. Police arrived and found crushed-up medication on the victim's chest and a nearby table. Toxicology reports showed her cause of death was a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient in eye drops.

Kurczewski, who had power of attorney over her friend, first denied involvement in the death. In later interviews with investigators, she admitted handing her friend a water bottle with six bottles of Visine in it to help her friend die by suicide.