- - Wisconsin horseback tour operator allegedly killed by ex-boyfriend in brutal assault on Caribbean island

Zoe HussainJanuary 2, 2026 at 2:53 AM

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Wisconsin horseback tour operator killed in brutal assault on Caribbean island

An American horseback tour operator was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend while working on a Caribbean Island, according to authorities and reports.

Karen Johannsen, 66, was violently struck in the back of the head with an unknown object by a man while on a horseback riding tour on Runaway Beach in Antigua on the morning of Dec. 19,

Karen Johannsen, 66, was allegedly killed by her former boyfriend while on a horseback tour in Antigua. Facebook/Karen Jo

The unidentified man who allegedly launched the assault was a former boyfriend of Johannsen, Lyn, Johannsen’s sister, told WMTV.

Johannsen, who hails from Madison, Wisconsin, was then transported to the hospital and treated for serious head injuries before being airlifted to the United States for further care, cops said.

The assault left her with a massive head injury, several broken bones, and a fractured jaw, according to Antigua News.

She was later pronounced dead on Dec. 26, the day after Christmas, at the University of Wisconsin Hospital after succumbing to her wounds, authorities added.

Johannsen suffered serious head injuries and died from her wounds the day after Christmas. Facebook/Karen Jo

Johannsen had been living in Antigua and frequently posted pictures on social media of horses galloping down the shores and of herself lounging on the beach. Facebook/Karen Jo

Her former boyfriend was taken into police custody, relatives added. It is unclear if police have formally charged him as the investigation continues.

Johannsen had been living in Antigua and frequently posted pictures on social media of horses galloping down the shores and of herself lounging on the beach.

She was the daughter of the former owners of Johannsen’s Greenhouse, a staple business that operated for 50 years in Madison, WMTV reported.

Police have since offered condolences to Johannsen’s family and urged the public to come forward with information related to the case.

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Source: “AOL Breaking”