Selma Alem and Julie Tran identified as Coventry Hills homicide victims

Calgary police have identified thetwo womenwhowere stabbed to deathin Coventry Hills earlier this week.

The deceased are 54-year-oldSelmawitAlemand 25-year-old Julie Tran, bothCalgary residents.

• Coventry Hills suspicious deaths of 2 women investigated by homicide unit

Police are investigating both deaths as homicides, andStaff Sgt. Doug Andrussaida person of interest is in custody on unrelated matters.

Officers discovered the women'sbodies Monday morning at a home in the 200 block of Coventry Close N.E. after Alem's friend was unable to contact her, and asked police to check on her welfare.

Police say there isnothing to indicate the attack was random.

"We believe,based on our investigation,that one of the victims and the offender knew each other," Andrus said.

Alem worked as a caregiver for Tran and a second person who lived at the home, Andrusadded.

"He has been interviewed,"Andrussaid. "Obviously he is quite distraught over what's happened and he is in a safe location."

Andrussaid there is "nothing to indicate" that person was involved in the homicides.

Police believe the women were killed up to48 hours beforetheir bodies being discovered.

Alem's son also a homicide victim

As CBC News previously reported, it's not the first homicide to strike Alem's family.

In 2005, her18-year-old son Michael Tsehaie Kahsai was found dead in a Forest Lawn home, having beenrepeatedly struck with a meat cleaver. A 19-year-old offender was later convicted of manslaughter andsentenced to seven years in prison.

• Coventry Hills suspicious death victim's son killed 10 years ago

Friends saidAlemwasa single mother who overcame two bouts with cancer andwas active in Calgary's Eritrean community for the past three decades.

"Selma is a very strong person," said SamuelTedros."This woman [was] very caring, very helpful, strong woman, always positive thinking."

Alem workedat thehome as a caregiverfor people with disabilities, according to her friends.

Anyone with information about the women's deathsis asked to call policeat 403-266-1234 or the homicide unit tip line at 403-428-8877, or to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.