A police investigation has been opened into the death of a Walmart employee whose body was recovered from inside a store’s walk-in bakery oven.
Officials were called to a Walmart supercentre in Halifax, Canada, last weekend (October 19) at around 9.30pm local time following reports of a sudden death.
Attendees of the branch, situated at 6990 Mumford Road in Novia Scotia, found an unnamed 19-year-old’s body ‘located in a large walk-in oven belonging to the store’s bakery department’.
The identity of the woman is yet to be revealed by police, however, the Martime Sikh Society told CTV News that she had been a member of their community after moving from Nova Scotia a few years back.
The Halifax Walmart is currently closed due to the investigation (Google Maps)
HRP Const. Martin Cromwell stated on Tuesday (October 22) that the investigation into the Walmart employee’s death had ‘not yet reached a point where the cause and manner of death have been confirmed’.
“The investigation is complex and involves several partner agencies. An investigation of this nature may take a significant amount of time,” he explained.
The Halifax Regional Police force has urged the public to be ‘mindful of sharing speculative information on social media’.
“Please be aware of the impacts that speculation could have on family, colleagues and loved ones of the woman.” the statement concluded.
Law enforcement officers are currently collaborating with Canada’s Centre for Occupational Health and Safety and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service on the investigation, police said.
Following the announcement of the woman’s death, a Walmart spokesperson has confirmed the Halifax location will remain temporarily closed amid the ongoing investigation.
Walmart employees are being afforded counseling sessions in the wake of the woman’s death (Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“We are heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family,” company spokesperson Amanda Moss told ABC News.”Our focus remains on taking care of our associates and making sure they have the support they need.”
CTV News also reports that Walmart is currently offering employees of the branch on-site support, which includes grief counselling and access to virtual care.
The publication also states the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration has issued a stop-work order for the bakery and ‘one piece of equipment’.
“As this is an active investigation, we cannot release further details at this time,” the department stated. “Please note, workplace investigations are complex and can take time.”
At the time of writing, it is not known when the Walmart store will be reopened to the public.
UNILAD has contacted representatives of Walmart for further comment.