A 19-year-old Walmart employee was found dead inside a walk-in bakery oven at a store location in Halifax, Nova Scotia, prompting a complex investigation involving multiple agencies and the temporary closure of the store.
Police responded to the Walmart store on Mumford Road on Saturday evening, October 19 around 9:30 p.m. local time after receiving reports of a sudden death. Officers discovered the young woman dead inside a large walk-in oven in the store’s bakery department.
The victim was identified as Gursimran Kaur, 19. Her mother, also a Walmart employee, searched for over an hour before finding her daughter’s charred remains.
Kaur was a member of the local Sikh community. According to the Maritime Sikh Society, she had emigrated from the UK to Canada with her mother approximately two to three years ago. The Maritime Sikh Society is working to bring some of the victim’s immediate family members from India.
“The investigation is complex and involves several partner agencies. An investigation of this nature may take a significant amount of time,” Halifax Regional Police stated in a release.
The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration has issued a stop-work order for the bakery and one piece of equipment at the store. The investigation includes collaboration with Occupational Health and Safety and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service to determine the cause and manner of death.
A Walmart spokesperson responded to the situation, stating that Walmart is “heartbroken” and that its “deepest thoughts are with our associates and their families.” The company added that its “focus remains on taking care of our associates and making sure they have the support they need.”
The store has remained closed for four days as investigators continue their work. Walmart provides on-site support to employees, including grief counseling and access to virtual care services.
Walk-in ovens, commonly used in industrial baking settings, are often used with special product-handling equipment. While these ovens are designated as “walk-in,” some models may not provide adequate space for comfortable entry when equipment and baked goods are inside.
Investigators have requested public cooperation by refraining from sharing speculative information on social media platforms, citing potential impacts on the victim’s family, colleagues, and loved ones.
The community has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs and to allow family members to come to the US for final ceremonies. The initiative exceeded its $50,000 target in just 10 hours and has accumulated about $130,000.