Police say woman sought in officer's death found dead, case ruled murder-suicide

Worcester police announced Monday that the body found in woods near 189 May Street is believed to be that of 58-year-old Karen Solomon, who had been sought as a suspect in the death of her husband, Officer Kurt Solomon. The discovery was made by two individuals walking from Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital shortly before 1 p.m.

Police said a handgun was recovered near the scene and that the identification of the body is pending confirmation by the medical examiner's office. Chief Paul B. Saucier described the investigation as a "murder-suicide" and noted that the case is still under review.

"Forensically, this still needs to be vetted through the [Medical Examiner’s] office, but we do believe it’s her," Saucier said.

Kurt Solomon, a 31-year-old officer, was found dead inside his home on Wildwood Avenue on Aug. 18. Authorities had previously labeled Karen Solomon as "armed and dangerous" and issued an arrest warrant charging her with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The police chief emphasized that there was no history of domestic abuse in the family and that domestic violence was not a factor in the case.

"At no time did the Solomon family have any history of domestic abuse," Saucier added.

The search for Karen Solomon had focused on the Coes Pond area after she was last seen near 200 Mill Street on the morning of Aug. 18. Police employed dive teams, K-9 units and closed nearby parks during the effort. The location where her body was found is about 1 to 1.5 miles from the earlier search area.

Karen Solomon was the co-founder and president of First H.E.L.P., a nonprofit that works to reduce mental-health stigma among first responders and support surviving families. The organization issued a statement expressing gratitude for public support and said it has confidence in the justice system, while declining further comment on the investigation.