On Tuesday morning, August 18, 2026, police were called to a house in Worcester, Massachusetts, after a report that a man was lying outside.
That man turned out to be 57-year-old Kurt Solomon, a veteran Worcester police officer who had been with the department for 31 years.
His wife, 58-year-old Karen Solomon, was gone.
Police would soon identify Karen as a person they wanted to speak with about Kurt’s death. A few days later, they issued an arrest warrant for her.
Then came a six-day search involving police dogs, drones, boats and a large area around Coes Pond.
And on Monday, August 24, police found a woman’s body in a wooded area near Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital.
They believe it was Karen.
Police are now calling the case a suspected murder-suicide.
But before getting into what police think happened, we think it’s worth talking about who Karen and Kurt Solomon actually were, because the background of this couple is one of the things that makes this case so unusual.
Kurt Solomon was a longtime Worcester police officer.
He had been with the department for 31 years, and people who worked with him described him as someone who was dependable, dedicated and committed to the job.
He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Kurt and Karen lived together on Wildwood Avenue in Worcester, and they had two adult sons at the time of this incident, Niklas and Brandon.
Karen’s background was quite different, although it was closely connected to law enforcement.
She was a mental-health advocate who spent years working specifically on issues affecting police officers and other first responders.
She was the founder and president of an organization called First H.E.L.P., which focuses on mental-health awareness, reducing the stigma around seeking help, and supporting families affected by first-responder suicide.
Karen had also written about police suicide, post-traumatic stress and the impact that police work can have on officers and their families.
At around 5:30 in the morning on Tuesday, August 18, police received a call about a man who appeared to be lying outside the Solomon home.
Officers went to the Wildwood Avenue property and found Kurt deceased.
Police later said his injuries involved a sharp object. Online comments indicate that his throat may have been slit. Another comment indicated that she left with his gun.
A doorbell camera captured Karen walking away from the area shortly after police were called to the house.
The footage was taken at around 5:40 in the morning.
She was wearing fairly ordinary clothes – shorts, a tank top and flip-flops.
Police began searching the Worcester area for Karen.
One of the main areas of interest was around Coes Pond.
Search teams used dogs, drones and boats, and police eventually closed parts of the area while the search continued.
The search went on for several days.
Authorities referred to the situation as a ‘domestic incident.’ Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier later made a point of clarifying what that meant.
Because Karen and Kurt lived together, the case fell under Massachusetts’ legal definition of a domestic situation.
According to the chief, that did not mean there was a known history of domestic violence between them.
He specifically said there was no known history of domestic abuse in the family.
On Friday August 21, an arrest warrant was issued for Karen. The charge was assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.
On Monday August 24, at around 1pm, two employees associated with the Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital were walking in the woods near the facility. They came across a body.
Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier later told reporters that they believed the body was Karen. A handgun was also found near the body.
Police said the gun found near Karen was not Kurt’s police service weapon. They are still working to determine exactly who owned it.
Kurt’s funeral was held on August 26. “My dad worked as a police officer but he was never a cop to me or to my brother, nor to the rest of my family,” Niklas Solomon said. “He was so much more than that. He was a genuine man who never set a bad example…”
Kurt’s brother Eric also spoke at the service. “We cannot allow the heinous, evil incarnation of this past week to define my brother’s life,” he said. “We cannot allow the sad, pathetic comments of the parasites on social media to write the narrative.
“We will write the narrative, all of us here.”
Kurt’s obituary was released and there is no mention of Karen in it.
Son, father, and brother Kurt S. Solomon, 57 of Worcester passed away Tuesday, August 18th. He was born in Worcester, the son of the late Thurston E. and Shirley (Morter) Solomon. He was a neighborhood kid who attended Gates Lane and South High. Following graduation, he went on to serve proudly in the United States Army in Germany. He then attended Quinsigamond Community College for Criminal Justice.
Kurt dedicated much of his life to serving his community as a police officer with the Worcester Police Department. During his distinguished 31-year career, he formed many lasting friendships with fellow officers and members of the community. He was a member of the Police Union and Our Lady of the Angels Church.
Outside of his career, Kurt was happiest when he was outdoors. An avid golfer, he could often be found enjoying a round at Hillcrest or taking care of household chores. He also enjoyed running and biking and had a great appreciation for nature and the outdoors.
He loved fishing and was a dedicated gardener who took pride in his vegetable garden. Each year, his hard work produced an abundance of fresh vegetables, and in a reflection of his generous spirit, he often donated his extra crops to the Worcester County Food Bank so that others in the community could enjoy the fruits of his labor
He leaves his two sons, Niklas T. Solomon and Brandon W. Solomon; his mother, Shirley A. all of Worcester; two brothers, Eric J. Salomonsson and his partner, Thomas M. Fox of Boynton Beach, Florida and Karl F. of Worcester. He also leaves his sidekick dog Merle and family, neighbors, and friends both on and off the police force.
Whether he was on the golf course, tending his garden, or simply sitting on his deck with a cup of coffee, Kurt embraced the simple things. He will be remembered for his many years of service to his country and his community, his witty sense of humor, and the pleasures he found on the street he lived on his whole life.
Kurt’s cause of death was made public on August 28.
According to his death certificate, Kurt died from an “incised wound of the neck.”
The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
The official time of death is listed as 5:42 a.m., though the date says “on or about” Aug. 18, suggesting an exact time and date are not known. His death was a result of injury, the medical examiner ruled.
The media have reviewed police scanner transmissions. A call was made for a male with “unknown breathing” on August 18.
Kurt had “severe lacerations to the neck,” one first responder noted to the dispatcher.
SOURCE LIST
https://www.telegram.com/obituaries/pneo1547414