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

One of two women found dead in the northeast Calgary community of Coventry Hills earlier this week had lost her son in a violent killing a decade ago.

Selma Alem's body was discovered on Monday morning, along with a second woman in her 20s, in a house in the 200 block of Coventry Close N.E.

Police said the deaths are not believed to be random, but have so far not released any further details about the investigation. Autopsies are underway on both victims.

In 2005, Alem's 18-year-old son Michael Tsehaie Kahsai was found dead in a Forest Lawn home.

He had been struck repeatedly with a meat cleaver, according to reports at the time.

Casey James Sluys, who was 19 at the time, was later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in prison.

Overcame adversity

Friends told the CBC that Alem — a single mother in her 50s — was a member of Calgary's Eritrean community for more than three decades.

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

Another friend said Selma overcame a lot of adversity in her life, including the death of her son and two bouts of cancer.

"And she beat it, and that's what made her so positive, so wonderful," said Michael Teclemariam.

"She was just a great mom and a great person," he added.

The pair said Alem — whose full name is Selmanit Alem — worked at her home as a caregiver for people with disabilities.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the death of Alem and the other woman to contact police at 403-266-1234, the homicide unit tip line at 403-428-8877 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.