The CBS show 48 Hours, which investigates “the most intriguing crime and justice cases,” will begin its fall season with a program on the matter of dressage trainer Michael Barisone.
Set to run at 10 p.m Saturday, it will explore how a U.S. Olympic dressage team alternate came to stand trial for attempted murder and weapons charges, after a dispute with his tenants spiraled out of control. In April, Barisone was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the attempted murder of a student, Lauren Kanarek, who lived on his farm and whom he was trying to evict.
The show is called, “The Shooting of Lauren Kanarek,” and includes interviews with both Barisone and Kanarek, as well as her father; eventer Boyd Martin, a friend of Barisone’s; the prosecutor, Christopher Schellhorn, and Barisone’s lawyers, Ed Bilinkas and Chris Deininger.
Michael Barisone in court during this month’s hearing with his lawyers,, Chris Deinnger and Ed Bilinkas. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
When Kanarek was unhappy about the level of training she received, she began posting messages on Facebook branding Barisone a bully, racist and anti-Semitic. He denied the allegations, and his supporters say her postings were unfairly damaging his reputation as he worried about how it would ruin his business.
The Facebook posts seemed to rattle and unnerve Barisone to the point where he called 911 four times, telling police he “feared” for his life.
“I remember complete and total panic,” Barisone tells CBS correspondent Nikii Battiste.
“Everybody says I was unglued. I was unglued.”
Then, on August 7, 2019, he allegedly confronted Kanarek. She testified that Barisone “pulled out a gun and shot me once, twice, directly in the chest.” She called 911 and was taken from the scene to undergo emergency surgery.
Lauren Kanarek testifying in court. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Barisone tells Battiste he recalls the messages Kanarek posted on social media about him, but says he has no memory of the shooting.
“Did you shoot Lauren Kanarek?” Battiste asks Barisone.
“I’m told I did,” Barisone says.
“But I have no recollection of that event,” Barisone says. “Zero. Nothing.”
At trial, his attorney argued that Barisone was driven temporarily insane by Kanarek’s attacks and then snapped. Kanarek said during the trial that Barisone bullied her..
Kanarek and her family do not believe Barisone’s story, that he had no idea what he was doing when the trigger was pulled.
Michael Barisone as he appeared in court during his trial. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Michael Barisone should be in a state prison for the rest of his life,” says Lauren Kanarek’s father, Jonathan Kanarek.
Barisone spent four months being evaluated at the Anne Klein Forensic Center in West Trenton, N.J., until a hearing on his status earlier this month. Judge Stephen Taylor, who presided at his trial in Morristown, N.J., ruled that Barisone should be treated at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris County, with his situation to be evaluated in six months.
