INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD held a news conference after two women were killed on Mitthoefer Road and their bodies were found a little over 400 feet from each other in the past week.
Police said they have not yet determined these two deaths are definitively connected.
Police emphasized both women were killed in a similar manner and either lived or were familiar with the area. They said both women were white and similar in age.
Police are adding patrols to the area for the time being.
IMPD is asking for people to check their security cameras for anything suspicious and to stay aware of their surroundings. Police are asking for people to not be alone at night and make sure people know where you are.
"We're here out of an abundance of caution to share information with the community that we can," interim IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said. "We need the community's help to know what these women were doing before they were killed."
Police were not able to say whether the two women knew each other.
"I can't image the loss these families feel right now as their loved ones were taken in this way," Bailey said.
Shannon Lassere, 58, was described as a friend to many and a mother.
She was found stabbed to death across the street from where she lived the morning of Jan. 27 in the 2200 block of North Mitthoefer Road.
The last time her daughter saw her mom was Friday night. She said her mom left to walk over to a gas station and never came back home.
Then on Feb. 1, IMPD homicide detectives were called about a woman found dead with traumatic injuries.
Just after 11 a.m., officers responded to a report of a person found dead in the 2100 block of North Mitthoefer Road, near East 21st Street. Officers located a woman with trauma who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the victim as 52-year-old Marianne Weis.
Police have previously not shared any details on whether a suspect was identified in either killing.