Paul Solomon was the real-life husband of Carolyn Warmus, who was convicted of murdering his previous wife, Betty Jeanne Solomon. The case inspired the 1987 film “Fatal Attraction.”
In 1989, in Greenburgh, New York, Paul Solomon returned home to find his wife, Betty Jeanne Solomon, shot to death. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Carolyn Warmus, a schoolteacher who was having an affair with Paul Solomon. The media drew parallels between the case and the movie “Fatal Attraction,” which depicted a married man’s affair leading to violent consequences.
The trial that followed was highly publicized, with Warmus being dubbed the “Fatal Attraction killer.” She was initially tried in 1991, but the jury was deadlocked. A second trial took place in 1992, which resulted in her conviction for second-degree murder. Warmus maintained her innocence, claiming that Paul Solomon was the actual murderer, but the evidence, including a bloody glove and a gun purchase, pointed towards her.
The case raised questions about infidelity, media influence on public perception, and the criminal justice system’s handling of such high-profile cases. Warmus was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. She was denied parole several times but was granted parole in June 2019 after serving 27 years, based on her good behavior and the fact that she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Paul Solomon, on the other hand, was never charged with the crime and continued with his life after the trial.
