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Advocate for First Responder Mental Health Found Deceased
25 Aug
Summary
- Woman missing for six days found deceased, believed to be suspect.
- Victim was a police officer, and his wife was a mental health advocate.
- A handgun was recovered near the body found in woods.
In Worcester, Massachusetts, the search for Karen Solomon, 58, concluded on Monday, August 25, 2026, after her body was discovered in a wooded area. Police believe the body to be Ms. Solomon, who had been missing for six days. Her husband, Kurt Solomon, 57, a police officer, was found dead in their home earlier. Authorities are investigating the deaths as a tragic murder-suicide, with a handgun found near the discovered body.
Karen Solomon was a prominent advocate for the mental health of emergency workers, having authored books and founded First H.E.L.P., an organization dedicated to fighting stigma and preventing suicide among first responders. She also played a role in the passage of the Public Safety Officer Support Act in 2022, which expanded federal benefits for mental health injuries. Her husband had served the Worcester police department for 31 years.
Funeral services for Officer Solomon were scheduled to begin on Tuesday, August 26, 2026. The Worcester Police Department expressed deep grief over the loss, hoping to bring closure to the family. Few details surrounding Mr. Solomon's death have been released due to domestic violence laws, though it was clarified that the family had no prior history of abuse. Other individuals were present at the residence when the officer died, but their identities remain undisclosed.
