Karen Solomon found dead after being named suspect in police officer husband’s death, officials say

Senior Digital Editor/Producer, WCVB.com

Authorities say the body of Karen Solomon, a Massachusetts woman wanted in connection with her police officer husband’s death, was discovered near a medical facility on Monday afternoon.

On Aug. 18, Worcester police Patrolman Kurt Solomon, 57, was found dead in his home. Karen Solomon, an advocate who called for improvements and greater awareness of police mental health problems, had disappeared after her husband was found dead. Sister station WCVB reports that a warrant was issued the next day for Karen Solomon on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.

Where was the body believed to be Karen Solomon found?

Worcester police Chief Paul Saucier said Monday that two Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital workers out for a walk just before 1 p.m. contacted law enforcement after finding the body in a wooded area in Worcester, which is around 46 miles from Boston.

“Two people who worked at Fairlawn Rehab observed a deceased body in the woods. Upon further examination, we believe this person to be Karen Solomon,” Saucier said. “In addition, in the surrounding area, we did locate a handgun in the area of the body.”

The hospital is a short distance from Coes Reservoir, which was the primary focus of the search since last Tuesday. Divers were actively searching the reservoir Monday afternoon.

The search around the reservoir prompted the city to close several nearby recreational areas. The Associated Press reports that authorities said the intensive law enforcement search included drones, boats and tracking dogs.

A final ID was still pending, but authorities said they were confident it was Karen Solomon, the AP reported.

Karen Solomon, 58, started a group that advocates for the mental health of police officers and wrote two books about the physical and psychological experiences of first responders.

Karen Solomon is a co-founder of an organization called First H.E.L.P., the organization said in a statement last week.

The group “is dedicated to honoring the service of first responders who have died by suicide, supporting their families, reducing the stigma associated with seeking mental-health assistance, and increasing awareness of mental-health challenges within the law-enforcement and first-responder communities,” it said.

Solomon family releases statement

Kurt Solomon had 31 years with the Worcester Police Department and leaves behind two adult sons. A wake is scheduled for Tuesday evening and a funeral is set for Wednesday morning, WCVB reports.

Worcester Police Patrolman Kurt Solomon

In a written statement read by Saucier, the Solomon family thanked first responders and the community for their support.

“The nightmare of the past week has left our family heartbroken and rudderless. The compassion, dedication and empathy of all agencies involved have given us light in the face of darkness,” Saucier read. “The selflessness of those who have helped us weather the storm cannot be expressed in simple words.”

Saucier said while the incident is considered a domestic incident, there was no history of domestic violence in the family.

___

The Associated Press contributed to this report.