A Massachusetts woman who had been named a suspect in the death of her police officer husband was found dead in the woods Monday, bringing a grim end to a nearly weeklong search.
Karen Solomon, 58, was discovered behind Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital in Worcester at around 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, according to the Worcester Police Department.
Two employees at the rehabilitation facility were out walking when they came across her body in a wooded area.
Police Chief Paul Saucier said a handgun was recovered near the body.
The discovery came less than a week after Karen’s husband, 57-year-old Worcester Police Officer Kurt Solomon, was found dead on the morning of Aug. 18.
Authorities had previously identified Karen as a suspect in his death and warned that she might be armed.
Saucier said investigators now believe the deaths were part of a “tragic murder-suicide.”
Police have not released detailed information about how Kurt died.
Saucier said Massachusetts domestic violence laws limit what authorities can publicly disclose about the case.
He did clarify, however, that the Solomon family had no known history of domestic abuse.
Authorities also said other people were inside the home at the time of Kurt’s death, though police have not publicly identified them or explained what they may have witnessed.
During Monday’s news conference, Saucier read a statement from members of the Solomon family, who said they were “heartbroken and rudderless” as they tried to process the tragedy.
“The compassion, dedication and empathy of all agencies involved have given us light in face of darkness,” the family said.
“The selflessness of those who have helped us weather the storm cannot be expressed in simple words.”
Kurt had spent 31 years with the Worcester Police Department.
The New England Police Benevolent Association said he is survived by his sons, Niklas and Brandon; his mother, Shirley; and his brothers, Karl and Eric.
His funeral was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25.
Karen was also well known in the first-responder community.
She co-founded First H.E.L.P., an organization that works to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health struggles among police officers and other first responders.
The group also supports first responders and their families and honors those who have died by suicide.
Karen had also advocated for the Public Safety Officer Support Act, which became law in 2022.
The legislation expanded federal benefits for first responders to include certain mental health injuries and deaths by suicide and recognized trauma-related stress from duty as a line-of-duty injury.
First H.E.L.P. issued a statement following the tragedy, saying, “No words can adequately convey the depth of grief surrounding this tragedy.”
The investigation into the deaths of Karen and Kurt Solomon remains ongoing.
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