Madison community and the world of horticulture are grieving the sudden loss of one of their favorite local television gardening gurus and a former greenhouse owner, Karen Johannsen, who was killed just days before Christmas during a horseback riding tour in a beach in Antigua. Johannsen, 66 was a favorite with the television gardening gurus of Madison and a former greenhouse owner. What should have been a relaxing retirement in “Paradise” is a heart wrenching murder case that runs through the Caribbean, to the University of Wisconsin Hospital.
The Attack: Dickenson Bay Tragedy.
At about 11 a.m., on December 19, 2025, law enforcers in the Republic of Antigua, reported that a female tourist, Johannsen, was wounded at the back of the head with a blunt object by an unknown male suspect, who was guiding the horseback riding tour at Dickenson Bay, a tourist attraction along the northwest coast of the island.
According to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Johannsen sustained the injury after the mysterious male suspect struck her on the back of the head with a blunt object during a guided horseback Johannsen was rushed to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre and was taken to get serious head wounds but she was airlifted to her home town of Madison, Wisconsin, where she received specialized care in neurology because of a critical condition.
The Green Gardener: A Allen Ginsberg Legacy.
Karen Johannsen before her Antigua stay had been a Wisconsin television staple. She was also called the “Green Gardener” on News 3 Now (Channel 3000) where she used to offer expert advice, facts about plants and season tips to thousands of viewers. The cameras were not the only thing she could do with her expertise. Her father started his business, Johannsen’s Greenhouse in Fitchburg in the late 1950s, which she ran along with her siblings Lyn and Gary until its shutdown in 2013.
What we did (my mom, brother, sister, and I), we could literally fit 20 pounds of stuff in a 5-pound bag, and we made it. This is because of the family business, the second point to be made by Karen Johannsen.
Homicide Investigation: Suspect Under Custody.
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The Antiguan police government officially termed the case to be a homicide. Although an unidentified male offender is now under arrest by the police, the police are yet to issue a name of the suspect or a particular motive. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the sister of Johannsen, Lyn, reported that Karen spent the majority of her year in Fitchburg but had regular visits to her home in Paradise View, Antigua, which she regularly mentioned on social media as her “Paradise.”12.
FAQs
Who is the suspected suspect of the Karen Johannsen case?
Yes, we have a male suspect in the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda. Investigations are ongoing.
In her memory, where shall I give a donation?
The family has also asked them to consider making donations to DAIS (Domestic Abuse Intervention Services) in Madison instead of sending flowers.
What shall I do should I possess knowledge?
Anybody with any information as to the incident is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigations Department at 268-462-3913 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-TIPS.
Disclaimer:
This news report is a personal view using the information found on the reports and trusted sources. The readers are advised to triangulate news provided by the official media.