Karen Solomon, 58, is wanted on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with her husband’s death, Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier said Friday, August 21, according to MassLive. A manhunt is underway for a woman days after her husband, Worcester Police Officer Kurt Solomon, was discovered dead in their home.
“Officer Solomon dedicated more than three decades of his life to serving and protecting our city, earning the respect of his fellow officers and our community. But Kurt was much more than the uniform he wore. He was a proud son of Worcester, a father, son, brother, friend, neighbor, and U.S. Army veteran. “I will personally miss Officer Solomon’s caring personality and the warm smile with which he always greeted me at City Council meetings. Those small interactions spoke to the kind of person he was and will be greatly missed. “He was an awesome police officer and an awesome person, and he’s going to be truly missed. Karen was best known as the co-founder of First H.E.L.P., formerly known as Blue H.E.L.P., a nonprofit that tracks first responder suicides and provides support for their families.
Around 5:40 a.m. on August 18, officers found Kurt, 57, dead at the couple’s home on Wildwood Avenue in Worcester. He grew up here, attended Gates Lane and South High, and ultimately devoted 31 years to the Worcester Police Department,” Petty wrote. She was last seen in Worcester, Massachusetts , near 200 Mill St., close to Coes Pond, around 5:45 a.m. on August 18, police said. On Friday, August 21, city officials announced that Coes Pond, Coes Reservoir, Coes Park, Columbus Park, Knights of Columbus Park and Stearns Tavern are closed until further notice to allow authorities to search the area.
Saucier said investigators believe that the fatal injuries were caused by a sharp object. “Kurt was a hell of a guy,” Saucier said, per The Guardian. Karen, in interviews, often framed suicide and mental health as issues that land first on families’ doorsteps, including her own, which she said includes many first responders . She said during one podcast appearance that she was struck by how badly police departments treated officers who needed help, and “how poorly we treat the families after a suicide.”
He added, “Our hearts are with his sons, family, friends, neighbors, and the entire Worcester Police Department as they grieve this tremendous loss. As the investigation continues, we ask our community to respect the privacy of Officer Solomon’s family and allow law enforcement to do its work. On behalf of a grateful city, we thank Officer Solomon for his dedicated service to our country, our city, and our community. May he rest in peace.”
Today, our focus remains on supporting those who are grieving and honoring a man who gave so much of his life to Worcester.
