A 19-year-old employee of a Walmart store in Nova Scotia, Canada, was found dead inside a large walk-in oven in the store’s bakery department, according to the Halifax Regional Police Department. The police have yet to confirm the cause and manner of death, emphasizing that the investigation is still ongoing and could take a significant amount of time.
The police department has not yet released any information regarding whether the incident is being treated as a potential crime. The identity of the deceased employee has not been disclosed, but local community leaders have revealed that she was a member of the local Sikh community and had moved to Canada from India a few years ago.
Walmart has expressed its cooperation with the police investigation. The company stated that it could not provide any additional information out of respect for the deceased employee and her family. As reported by CTV News, the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration in Canada has issued a stop-work order for the bakery and a specific piece of equipment.
The department has not released any further details about the investigation, citing its active status. They also noted that workplace investigations are often complex and can take a considerable amount of time. As of Tuesday, the Walmart store where the incident occurred remained closed, with no information available about when it might reopen.
Walmart spokesperson Amanda Moss told CBC that the company is providing support to its staff members, including access to virtual and on-site grief counseling. “We are heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family,” Moss said in a statement. “We extend our sincerest condolences to those who were closest to them.”
The Halifax Regional Police Department has urged the public to refrain from sharing speculative information on social media, highlighting the potential impact on the family, colleagues, and loved ones of the deceased woman.