Family expresses devastation as police prepare to charge boyfriend with murder of 26-year-old from Burntisland, Fife

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A British tour guide who was stabbed to death in Lapland has been described as a “beautiful girl” by family.

The 26-year-old from Burntisland, Fife, who has been named locally as Rebecca Johnson, was discovered in the village of Kuttanen, by Enontekio, Finland, on Saturday.

She was a member of the Santa Safari team, which works with Oxford-based tour operator Transun Travel to organise Christmas-themed excursions to Lapland.

It is understood Johnson’s parents have travelled to Lapland.

Speaking to the Courier newspaper, her great-aunt, Val Laing, said Johnson would be greatly missed.



“Rebecca was a beautiful girl,” she said. “I had come home from Edinburgh when her grandad was on the phone to tell me what had happened. I couldn’t take it in at first. For her parents and grandparents to lose her just before Christmas is devastating. I’ll be there for them but I don’t know how they are going to cope.”

Her 36-year-old Czech boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of killing Johnson after a police manhunt in temperatures of -30C (-22F).

The man, who remains in custody, is to be formally charged with murder on Wednesday, a statement from Lapland police said.

A spokeswoman for Santa Safari said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the Santa Safari team was discovered dead on 3 December. We are all in shock from this tragic news and our thoughts go out to her family.

“Our team is working closely with the Finnish police and relevant authorities to support the investigation that is now under way. It goes without saying that we will do everything we can to support the family and our staff at this incredibly difficult time.”

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in Finland on 3 December.”