The Hawthorne Hill Shooting: Michael Barisone and Lauren Kanarek

The Dream of Hawthorne Hill

Hawthorne Hill, nestled in Long Valley, New Jersey, was designed to be an elite equestrian sanctuary. Owned by Michael Barisone, an Olympic-level dressage coach and former alternate for the 2008 Beijing team, the facility was prestigious and highly sought after. In 2018, lifelong rider Lauren Kanarek decided that training with Michael was her ticket to the top. She and her boyfriend, Rob Goodwin, moved onto the property, expecting dedicated, one-on-one training for $5,000 a month. However, the reality of the arrangement quickly fell short of Lauren's expectations, leading to immense frustration and the beginning of a disastrous conflict.

The Dispute Over JT

The tension reached a boiling point over Michael's prized horse, JT. While Lauren's horses were considered average, JT was a top-tier animal. After being allowed to ride JT briefly, Lauren became enamored and started entering the horse into competitions without permission. Michael was furious, feeling that Lauren's lack of skill was devaluing his world-class horse. When Michael banned her from riding JT, the situation escalated drastically. Michael claimed he was extorted into selling JT to Lauren for a low price under the threat of financial ruin from Lauren's father, Jonathan Kanarek.

A War on Social Media

The conflict soon spilled over onto social media, with Lauren targeting Michael and his girlfriend, Mary Haskins Gray. Lauren posted numerous aggressive and ominous messages on Facebook, accusing Michael of various misconducts and claiming Mary was intentionally holding her back. Michael perceived these posts as a calculated campaign of harassment and stalking, causing his mental state to deteriorate rapidly. The situation grew so severe that both parties filed complaints with SafeSport, the organization handling misconduct in US athletics, threatening each other's careers and livelihoods.

The Tragic Confrontation

The breaking point occurred on August 7, 2019. Following a visit from Child Protective Services regarding Mary's children, Michael reached his limit. Believing his life and family were in imminent danger, he retrieved a nine-millimeter pistol. According to reports, Michael shot Lauren twice in the chest at point-blank range and fired at Rob before being subdued. Lauren survived the harrowing ordeal after multiple surgeries and days in a medically induced coma. Michael was charged with attempted murder but was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity, a verdict that continues to spark intense debate and controversy.

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