As Calgary police continue to investigate the recent discovery of two murdered women inside a northeast home, an autopsy has confirmed the identities of the victims as well as the nature of their deaths.
Police have confirmed the deceased are 54-year-old Selamawit (Selma) Alem and 25-year-old Julie Tran.
At approximately 10:00 a.m. Monday, officers were called to a home in the 200 block of Coventry Close Northeast.
“A friend of Alem’s was unable to contact her," said CPS Staff Sergeant Doug Andrus of the homicide unit. "She contacted the Calgary Police Service out of concern and asked us to attend and check on her welfare.”
Inside the residence, police located the bodies of Alem and Tran, their deaths the result of a fatal stabbing attack. Police believe the attack occurred on Saturday, roughly 36 to 48 hours before the victims were located.
Investigators do not believe the attack was random and the CPS Homicide Unit continues to investigate the matter.
“We do have a person of interest,” said Andrus. “He has been interviewed and he is currently in custody on unrelated matters.”
"We believe based on our investigation that the victims and the offender knew each other.”
According to neighbours, Alem was a caregiver to people suffering from mental disabilities and was living in the home with two of her clients. Police say the surviving person who had been under Alem's care is aware of the deaths that occurred in his former home.
“He has been interviewed, obviously he is distraught over what’s happened and he’s in a safe location.”
Alem was predeceased by her son, Michael Kahsai, who was found beaten to death inside a Forest Lawn home in 2005 but Andrus says "There’s nothing to indicate that this is related to that incident”.
Anyone with information pertaining to the deaths of Alem and Tran is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service, 403-266-1234, or Crime Stoppers.
