Wife of police officer who was found dead is considered ‘armed and dangerous,’ chief says
Arrest Warrant Issued for Wife of Dead Worcester Officer
Activelifezero.com – The wife of police officer who was found dead at his Massachusetts home is now being sought by authorities. Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier announced on Friday that an arrest warrant has been issued for Karen Solomon, co-founder of a nonprofit focused on law-enforcement mental health. Her husband, Officer Kurt Solomon of the Worcester Police Department, was discovered lifeless at the couple’s Wildwood Avenue residence earlier in the week. Saucier characterized Solomon as “armed and dangerous,” adding that the department-issued sidearm belonging to the late officer had not been recovered from the property.
Charges under the warrant include assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury. The chief confirmed the injury involved a sharp object but offered no further detail, citing the ongoing investigation.
“Right now, we’re continuing our search. We will not stop until we find her either way, here or somewhere else.”
What Dispatch Audio Reveals About the Early-Morning Response
Audio recordings from Worcester dispatch, obtained by CNN, reconstruct the sequence of events on the morning of the discovery. Units were dispatched to the Wildwood Avenue address around 5:30 a.m. ET after a report of a man lying in the backyard. An officer on scene described “visible blood inside the building, inside the bathroom, in the back.”
The original 911 call came from a female resident of the home. When dispatchers tried to reach the caller a second time, the voicemail greeting identified the number as Karen Solomon’s. Police have not confirmed whether Solomon herself placed the initial call. The recordings show repeated unanswered attempts to reach that number.
One dispatcher asked whether the caller was male or female; a second replied, “It was a female. Her voicemail on her phone is Karen Solomon.”
A gray 2023 Toyota Highlander registered to the homeowners was reported missing shortly after the initial response, prompting a be-on-the-lookout alert at roughly 6:19 a.m. ET. The recordings do not specify who is believed to be driving the vehicle. Saucier stated on Tuesday that officers arrived at the scene at approximately 5:28 a.m. ET in response to a report of a “medical person down,” a timeline consistent with the dispatch audio.
Investigative Boundaries and the Couple’s Public Life
Court records confirm that Karen and Kurt Solomon were married and shared the Wildwood Avenue address. Authorities have declined to discuss the current state of their relationship, invoking domestic-violence privacy protections. The contents of the 911 call and any potential motive remain undisclosed.
The wife of police officer who was killed is also known publicly as a co-founder of an organization advocating for officer mental well-being — a role that adds community complexity to an emotionally charged investigation in a small city where colleagues and neighbors knew Kurt Solomon personally.
Kurt Solomon, 57, served more than three decades with the Worcester Police Department. He was an Army veteran, father of two sons, and, by his obituary’s description, “a dedicated gardener who took pride in his vegetable garden.” Neighbors recalled an officer who donated surplus produce to a local food bank and spent free hours fishing, golfing, or sitting on his deck with coffee.
The New England Benevolent Association called him “an incredibly dependable officer, colleague and friend.” Worcester Mayor Joe Petty posted a tribute on Instagram, saying he would miss the officer’s “caring personality and the warm smile with which he always greeted me at City Council meetings,” adding that those small interactions “spoke to the kind of person he was and will be greatly missed.”
Community Mourning and the Ongoing Search
At Friday’s briefing, Saucier offered a personal remembrance of the fallen officer.
“Kurt was a hell of a guy. He was an awesome police officer and an awesome person and he’s going to be truly missed. The Worcester Police Department is hurting right now and we’re hoping we can bring closure to the family.”
The chief noted the family is “going through a lot right now” and called the situation “very difficult.” A wake is scheduled for Tuesday, with the funeral to follow Wednesday. In the interim, the city of Worcester has closed certain public spaces near the residence while the search for the wife of police officer who was found dead continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges are listed on the arrest warrant? Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury. Chief Saucier confirmed the injury involved a sharp object but did not provide additional specifics.
Where is Karen Solomon believed to be? Authorities have not confirmed her location. A gray 2023 Toyota Highlander registered to the household was reported missing around 6:19 a.m. ET, triggering a be-on-the-lookout alert. Police said they will continue searching locally and elsewhere.
Did Karen Solomon place the original 911 call? Police have not publicly confirmed this. Dispatch audio shows the initial call came from a female resident of the home, and a subsequent voicemail greeting identified the number as Karen Solomon’s.
What is known about Kurt Solomon’s career? He served more than three decades with the Worcester Police Department, was an Army veteran, and was survived by two sons. Colleagues described him as dependable and dedicated.
When are the wake and funeral? A wake is scheduled for Tuesday, with the funeral to follow on Wednesday, according to Chief Saucier’s Friday briefing.
