In the quiet town of Greenburgh, New York, the life of 40-year-old Betty Jeanne Solomon, a female, was brought to a brutal and tragic end on the night of January 15, 1989. Her husband, Paul Solomon, discovered her lifeless body in the living room of their condominium. She had been pistol-whipped and shot nine times in her back and legs. The violent nature of the crime sent shockwaves through the community and quickly drew national media attention, with parallels being drawn to the plot of the
popular film 'Fatal Attraction.'
The initial focus of the investigation fell on Paul Solomon, who had a seemingly solid alibi of being at a local bowling alley and later with his lover, Carolyn Warmus. As detectives delved deeper into the couple's life, they uncovered a troubled marriage. Paul, a fifth-grade teacher, had been engaged in an extramarital affair with Warmus, a 23-year-old fellow teacher at Greenville Elementary School. This revelation shifted the focus of the investigation squarely onto Warmus, whose behavior following the murder raised suspicions. She continued to pursue Paul even after he ended their relationship and began seeing another woman.
In February 1990, Carolyn Warmus was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Her first trial in 1991 ended in a hung jury. However, the prosecution pursued a second trial in 1992. This time, they presented a new piece of evidence: a cashmere glove containing blood, which was purportedly found by Paul Solomon and alleged to belong to Warmus. Despite the lack of definitive forensic evidence tying her directly to the crime scene, the jury in the second trial found Warmus guilty of second-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm.
Warmus was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison and was incarcerated at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women. Throughout her imprisonment, she maintained her innocence. After serving 27 years, Carolyn Warmus was granted parole and released from prison on June 17, 2019. In the years following her release, she has continued to fight to clear her name, seeking DNA testing on evidence from the crime scene. The case of Betty Jeanne Solomon's murder remains a compelling and debated story of love, betrayal, and a quest for justice that continues to this day.
