Police in Saint John are investigating the death of two women that occurred in less than 24 hours.

Sgt. Lori Magee of the Saint John Police Force says officers were called to a home on Melrose Street on the city's east side around 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

Magee says one of the building's tenants returning home from work discovered an unresponsive woman in the backyard.

The 44-year-old woman, who lived in the building, was pronounced dead in hospital. Police are treating the death as suspicious.

Magee says an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Police say the second incident happened around 8 a.m. at a high-rise apartment building on Ellerdale Street. A 61-year-old woman was found dead at the scene.

Police have yet to determine the cause of death or whether it was suspicious.

Officers will be holding the scene until an autopsy is conducted.