CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are investigating the deaths of two transgender women they say operated as sex workers.

Detectives with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say the deaths occured Sunday, April 4 and Thursday, April 15. Police say they do not know if the cases are connected.

“Given the circumstances, the CMPD is encouraging members of the LGBTQ community engaged in sex work to exercise extreme caution and immediately report anything suspicious by calling 9-1-1,” the department said in a statement.

Police say the first victim, identified as Jurkeith Montreal Peterson, 29, was found unresponsive in a hotel on Queen City Drive around 1:46 p.m. on April 4. Medic pronounced Peterson dead on the scene.

Around 2:30 a.m. on April 15, CMPD says the second victim was killed in the 8500 block of N. Tryon Street. The victim’s identity has not yet been released.

This is an ongoing investigation and detectives ask anyone with information to please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.