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Police have issued an arrest warrant for a Massachusetts woman who has been missing for several days after her husband, a veteran Worcester police officer, was found dead inside the home they shared.
Karen Solomon, 58, is wanted on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier said during a Friday news conference. Authorities said Solomon remains missing and should be considered armed and dangerous as the search for her enters its fifth day.
Investigators have been looking for Solomon since Tuesday, when officers responding to a call at the couple’s Worcester home found Officer Kurt Solomon dead. Worcester police said doorbell camera footage captured Karen Solomon walking down a nearby street wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops just minutes after officers arrived at the home. Saucier said Kurt Solomon died after suffering injuries from a sharp object, but declined to provide additional details because of the ongoing investigation.
“We will not stop until we find her, either way, here or somewhere else,” Saucier said, adding that investigators hope to bring closure for the officer’s family and the Worcester Police Department.
Search remains focused on Coes Pond
Authorities continue to search the area around Coes Pond in Worcester, using dive teams, police dogs, sonar equipment, helicopters and marine units, CNN reported. The city has also closed Coes Pond parks, nearby beaches and the historic Stearns Tavern until further notice while the investigation continues.
Saucier encouraged the public to continue reporting potential sightings of Karen Solomon so investigators can determine whether they are credible.
USA TODAY reached out to the Worcester Police Department for additional comment on the investigation and the search for Karen Solomon.
Officer remembered for service to community
Kurt Solomon, 57, served 31 years with the Worcester Police Department and was an Army veteran. His obituary described him as an avid golfer, fisherman and gardener who is survived by two sons, his mother, two brothers and his dog, Merle.
“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,” the obituary says.
Who is Karen Solomon?
Before authorities began searching for her, Karen Solomon was known for advocating for first responders’ mental health. According to AP News, she co-founded First H.E.L.P., an organization that supports first responders and honors those who have died by suicide, and wrote two books about the physical and psychological experiences of emergency responders.
AP News reported that Karen and Kurt Solomon had been married and shared the Worcester home where the officer was found. Authorities have declined to discuss the status of their relationship, citing domestic violence privacy rules, AP News wrote. First H.E.L.P. expressed condolences to Kurt Solomon’s family and the Worcester law enforcement community after his death while reaffirming its commitment to supporting first responders. Police continue to ask that anyone who sees Karen Solomon not approach her and instead contact law enforcement immediately.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT.