Karen Solomon's body believed found, case deemed murder‑suicide

Worcester police announced Monday that they have located a body they believe belongs to Karen Solomon, the 58‑year‑old mental‑health advocate who vanished after her husband, veteran officer Kurt Solomon, was found dead at their home on 18 August 2026. The discovery shifts a frantic, week‑long manhunt into what officials are calling a “tragic murder‑suicide,” a verdict that will shape the department’s ongoing trauma response and the community’s grieving process.

The find came after officers responded to a call at 189 May Street just before 1 p.m., where two staff members of Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital reported a deceased person in the woods near Coe’s Pond. Chief Paul Saucier identified the remains as likely belonging to Solomon.

Media additions

"Upon further examination, we believe this person to be Karen Solomon."

Paul Saucier, Police Chief, via Boston Herald

While the identification remains “preliminary” pending confirmation by the state medical examiner, investigators also recovered a handgun near the site. The weapon is not the officer’s service pistol; police are still tracing its origin, though Chief Saucier said Kurt Solomon was “probably the owner.”

"The gun was not the husband’s service weapon, and law enforcement are still determining the origin of the weapon."

Paul Saucier, Police Chief, via Boston Herald

Solomon’s disappearance sparked a multi‑agency search that stretched across the 90‑acre Coe’s Pond park. Video released by police showed her entering the water near the Westside Animal Clinic on 18 August 2026; the body was found roughly 0.6 miles downstream from that point.

Authorities classified Kurt Solomon’s death as a domestic incident under state law because the victims shared a household, not because of any documented history of abuse. “At no time did the Solomon family have any history of domestic abuse,” Chief Saucier emphasized, adding that the label “has nothing to do with this case.”

"At no time did the Solomon family have any history of domestic abuse. I want to make myself absolutely clear at this point that has nothing to do with this case."

Paul Saucier, Police Chief, via Boston Globe

The Solomon family released a statement describing the week as a “nightmare” that left them “heartbroken and rudderless.” They thanked the “local, state and federal law‑enforcement and fire departments” for their “compassion, dedication, empathy.”

"The nightmare of the past week has left our family heartbroken and rudderless."

Solomon family statement, via Boston Herald

Police Union President Officer Thomas Duffy reinforced the absence of prior violence, telling reporters that “There’s no history of domestic incidents or violence involving our officer or his wife.” He vowed the department would honor Kurt Solomon’s “tremendous, giving, caring way” while supporting his two sons, now left without either parent.

"There’s no history of domestic incidents or violence involving our officer or his wife."

Thomas Duffy, Police Union President, via Boston Globe

Beyond the immediate tragedy, Solomon’s own work looms large. She founded First H.E.L.P., a nonprofit aimed at reducing stigma around mental health for first responders, and Blue H.E.L.P., which supports families of officers who die by suicide. She authored two books on the subject and was a vocal advocate for police‑wellness resources — services now being highlighted by the department as it grapples with the loss of a 31‑year veteran.

Chief Saucier said the department’s mental‑health and wellness resources remain available to officers coping with the shock of the case, and he promised a “full accounting” as investigators finish “wrapping up all the pieces.”

Key timeline

• 18 August 2026 – Kurt Solomon found dead outside the couple’s home on Wildwood Avenue; an arrest warrant issued for Karen Solomon on assault‑and‑battery‑with‑dangerous‑weapon charges.
• 18 August 2026 (shortly after 5:40 a.m.) – Ring footage shows Karen Solomon walking near Westside Animal Clinic, wearing pajama shorts, tank top and flip‑flops.
• 24 August 2026 – Police locate a body in woods near Coe’s Pond; Chief Saucier identifies the remains as “likely” Karen Solomon.
• 24 August 2026 – Handgun recovered near the body; origin still under investigation.
• 25 August 2026 – Funeral service for Kurt Solomon scheduled at Our Lady of the Angels Church.

What to watch next

• Medical examiner confirmation of the body’s identity, expected within the next few days.
• Formal determination of the handgun’s ownership and any forensic links to the couple.
• Release of the final autopsy report for Kurt Solomon, which may clarify the cause of death.
• Potential internal review of Worcester Police Department’s mental‑health protocols in light of the tragedy.
• Community vigils and statements from state officials as the funeral for Officer Solomon proceeds.

The emergence of a likely body brings a semblance of closure to a case that has rattled a tight‑knit community. Yet the investigation’s final chapters — and the broader conversation about first‑responder mental health, remain open, poised to shape policy discussions and support initiatives across the region.