PLANO, Texas (Diya TV) – The death of two Texas teen girls, whom died within hours of each other, has been ruled an apparent suicide by authorities, police are now investigating if the deaths were connected.

Ritu Sachdeva and Hillary Kate Kuizon, 17-year-old high school classmates at Plano East Senior High School, were found dead in two different locations – Sachdeva was found dead at home and Kuizon was found in an area near a middle school, according to police in Murphy, a suburb of Plano. The girls’ cause of death has not yet been released, but investigators said the circumstances of the event have led them “to presume they were both self-inflicted.”

There has been no evidence of foul play detected, police said.

“We are treating these two cases with the care and compassion they deserve, and will continue to seek answers for the families,” Murphy Police Chief Arthur Cotton said.

Sachdeva’s family, including her elder sister, Suchi Sachdeva said the young girl had given them no reason to believe she had ever been thinking about hurting herself, let alone taking her own life. Ritu had struggled with depression and anxiety, but regularly used services provided by similar clinics to this Honey Lake Clinic as well as frequently visited with a psychiatrist, her therapist and took medication, her sister said. Suchi added that Ritu “seemed much happier than she had been in a while. You could even say she was becoming more confident, happy and excited for life.”

Her spirits had been brighter as of late due to her recent acceptance into Drexel University, and was chatting with members of a group for incoming students.

“I just wanted to say that this was just so unexpected,” Suchi said. “My parents and I care so much for her.”

Kuizon’s family could not be reached for comment.

Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year, the CDC issued warning of an apparent increase in young Americans committing suicide by strangling, suffocating, and hanging themselves. In some rare instances-less than 1 percent-people engage in what’s referred to as a “suicide pact.” According to Jeffrey Bridge, director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, most suicide pacts involve couples over the age of 50.

The day after the two were found dead, about 100 students, and their families, gathered for a community counseling event. Counselors remained on campus for students the following day. “We join with the students and staff at Plano East in mourning this loss and in extending our sincere condolences to the students’ families,” school spokeswoman Range-Stanton said in a statement.