By Tiffany Williams –
WORCESTER, Mass. — Worcester Police believe the body of Karen Solomon has been found near Fairlawn Rehabilitation following a nearly weeklong search, bringing a tragic end to an investigation that began with the death of her husband, Worcester Police Officer Kurt Solomon.
Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier said during a 4 p.m. press conference Monday that the identification remains preliminary and must be confirmed through the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. A handgun was also located in the area of the body.
“We do believe it’s valid,” Saucier said of the preliminary identification.
The discovery came after two people who work at Fairlawn were walking in the area Monday afternoon and discovered the body, according to Saucier.
Police had not yet reached that location as part of their organized search, but Saucier said investigators had been conducting concentric searches and the area was going to be included as the operation expanded.
The discovery was approximately 0.6 miles from the location where Solomon was last captured on surveillance video behind the Westside Animal Clinic, according to Saucier.
Investigators had spent much of the previous several days concentrating their search around Coes Pond, including extensive searches of the approximately 90-acre body of water and surrounding area.
Saucier said investigators now believe the deaths of Kurt and Karen Solomon were the result of a murder-suicide.
“We believe this case is a tragic murder-suicide that occurred, and we still have plenty of work to do as far as wrapping up all the pieces to this,” Saucier said. “Again, it’s tragic.”
Preliminary evidence indicates Karen Solomon suffered a gunshot wound, Saucier said in response to questions from reporters. No gunshot was reported in the area Monday, and when asked whether he believed she had been there for some time, Saucier said, “I believe so.”
Exactly when she died will be left to the medical examiner to determine through forensic examination.
The handgun recovered near Karen Solomon was not Kurt Solomon’s service weapon, which police had previously said was accounted for. Investigators are now working to determine who owned the firearm found near Karen.
“It was not a service weapon, as I spoke about before,” Saucier said. “We are trying to determine who is the gun owner.”
Saucier said Kurt Solomon had a firearms license and acknowledged that the weapon could have belonged to him, but investigators had not yet established its ownership.
The chief also sought to clarify earlier descriptions of the case as a domestic incident. Saucier said the terminology was based on Massachusetts law because the incident involved members of the same family or household and should not be interpreted as evidence of a history of domestic abuse.
“At no time did the Solomon family have any history of domestic abuse,” Saucier said. “I want to make myself absolutely clear at this point that has nothing to do with this case.”
When asked what investigators had learned about what caused the original fatal confrontation, Saucier declined to speculate, saying that aspect of the case remains under investigation.
The discovery comes after days of an intensive search involving local, state and federal agencies, with investigators concentrating significant resources around Coes Pond after surveillance video showed Karen Solomon walking behind the animal clinic.
Saucier would not disclose whether investigators recovered anything from the water during those searches.
The chief also addressed the toll the investigation and Kurt Solomon’s death have taken on the Worcester Police Department.
“It’s been very difficult on the department, and it will continue to be,” Saucier said. “Now that we have somewhat closure, this is when it’s going to really affect the mental health of the police department.”
Saucier said mental health and wellness resources are available to Worcester officers and expressed hope that members of the department will use them.
During the press conference, Saucier also read a statement provided by the Solomon family, who described the previous week as a nightmare that had left them heartbroken.
“The nightmare of the past week has left our family heartbroken and relentless,” the family said, according to the statement read by Saucier.
The family expressed gratitude to the Worcester Police Department and the numerous local, state and federal agencies whose personnel participated in the search and investigation.
“The compassion, dedication, and empathy of all agencies involved have given us light in the face of darkness,” the family said. “The selflessness of those who have helped us weather the storm cannot be expressed in simple words.”
The family thanked the men and women who devoted their time to helping them find answers and said their work had provided comfort during an unimaginable week.
“You men and women have taken time out of your lives to help us find answers,” the statement said. “If there ever will be an end, you have given us comfort knowing that you are working on our behalf. For us. God bless you all.”
The family also thanked people in Massachusetts and around the world who offered sympathy and support.
“For those in Massachusetts and throughout the world who have offered up joys and sympathies, they have helped us through each minute of the day,” the statement said. “Thank you for your basic human compassion. May God be with all of us.”
Although the discovery provides what Saucier described as “somewhat closure,” the investigation is not over. Police still must establish the ownership of the handgun, await the medical examiner’s findings and continue reconstructing the circumstances surrounding both deaths.
For Worcester Police, the discovery also begins another difficult chapter as the department prepares to mourn Kurt Solomon while investigators work to answer the questions that remain about how and why the tragedy unfolded.
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Dylan Azari, Laura Soukkavong, DeJaune Jones, and Serenity Jones contributed to this story.