A handgun was recovered near Karen Solomon’s body on Monday, Aug. 24
Credit: Worcester Police Department
NEED TO KNOW
- Karen Solomon’s body was found near a rehabilitation hospital days after she was named a suspect in the death of her husband, Kurt Solomon
- A handgun was recovered near the body, which was found in Worcester, Mass., on Monday, Aug. 24
- Authorities suspect the case to be a murder-suicide involving Karen and the veteran police officer
The body of Karen Solomon, the woman suspected in the death of her husband, Kurt Solomon, has been located.
Karen’s body was discovered behind Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital in Worcester, Mass., at around 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24. Two employees at the facility were on a walk when they found her body in the woods, the Worcester Police Department (WPD) said.
A handgun was recovered near the body, WPD Chief Paul Saucier said during an Aug. 24 news conference.
The discovery comes less than a week after authorities began a search for Karen, alleging she was connected to the death of her husband, a veteran Worcester Police patrolman. Kurt was found dead on the morning of Aug. 18. She was 58, and he was 57.
Saucier said that the deaths are believed to be a “tragic murder-suicide.”
During the news conference, Saucier shared a statement from members of the Solomon family, who said that they were “heartbroken and rudderless” amid this “nightmare.”
“The compassion, dedication and empathy of all agencies involved have given us light in face of darkness,” Saucier said, reading the statement. “The selflessness of those who have helped us weather the storm cannot be expressed in simple words.”
Credit: Worcester Police Department
Following the discovery of Kurt’s body, Karen was named as a suspect in his death. The WPD said at the time she was “presumed to be armed and dangerous,” CBS Boston previously reported. The Worcester Police Department’s initial written alert said there was concern she “may be armed.”
The details of Kurt’s death have remained private, with Saucier saying that domestic violence laws prevent the police from sharing more information. However, Saucier clarified that the Solomon family did not have “any history of domestic abuse.”
Authorities also shared that other people were at the home at the time of Kurt’s death.
Kurt was a 31-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department, the New England Police Benevolent Association said in a statement.
He is survived by his sons, Niklas and Brandon; his mother, Shirley; and his brothers, Karl and Eric, according to the association. His funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25, The New York Times reported.
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Karen co-founded First H.E.L.P., an organization dedicated to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health among police and other first responders. The organization also supports first responders and their families and honors those who have died by suicide.
She also lobbied for the Public Safety Officer Support Act, according to The Times. The legislation—which passed in 2022—expanded a federal benefits program to cover mental health injuries and deaths by suicide for first responders. The act also detailed that stress caused by exposure to one or more traumatic events while on duty is considered a personal injury in the line of duty.
First H.E.L.P. issued a statement on Aug. 22, saying, “No words can adequately convey the depth of grief surrounding this tragedy.”
PEOPLE reached out to the Worcester Police Department and First H.E.L.P. for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
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