Walmart Closes Store After 19-Year-Old Employee Was Found Dead In Walk-In Oven

A tragedy rocked Canada earlier this week when a 19-year-old Walmart employee was found dead inside a walk-in bakery oven.

Halifax Regional Police announced in a press release on Monday, October 21, that they were called to the location over the weekend. They launched an immediate investigation into the woman's death and advised the public to refrain from wild speculations.

Days after the incident, Walmart and other agencies involved in the investigation have broken their silence on the woman's death. The retail facility has since closed shop to allow cops to do their job and mourn the loss of its employee.

According to the press release, the tragic event occurred on Saturday, October 19, around 9:30 p.m. local time. "Police were called to a sudden death at Walmart located at 6990 Mumford Road," the Halifax Regional Police revealed.

"A 19-year-old woman employed at the store was found deceased. Investigators are working closely with Occupational Health and Safety and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service to determine the cause and manner of death," the statement explained.

Authorities shared an update on Tuesday, October 22, noting the 19-year-old "was located in a large walk-in oven belonging to the store's bakery department." They stressed that it was too early to understand what happened to the employee, noting:

"The investigation is complex and involves several partner agencies. An investigation of this nature may take a significant amount of time."

In the second press release, the Halifax Regional Police pleaded with the public to avoid speculating about what happened to the Walmart employee. They noted these assumptions should not end up on social media, writing:

"Please be aware of the impacts that speculation could have on family, colleagues, and loved ones of the woman."

Their words reiterated the message Constable Martin Cromwell told reporters on Monday. "We just want to encourage the public to be patient with our investigation and be mindful that there is family members and co-workers involved," he said per CBC.

According to Satnam Singh Randhawa, chair of the Maritime Sikh Society board, the late Walmart employee was a member of the Sikh community. He expressed distress over the 19-year-old's death in a statement, noting:

"It's pretty distressing, you know, young people come here with all kinds of hopes and dreams, and they're working hard, and then this is what happens."

Nova Scotia's Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration broke their silence on the incident in a statement to PEOPLE. "We extend sympathies to the employee's family at this incredibly difficult time," they began, adding:

"We can confirm a stop work order was issued October 22 for the bakery and one piece of equipment at Walmart at 6990 Mumford Road, Halifax."

"As this is an active investigation, we cannot release further details at this time. Please note, workplace investigations are complex and can take time," the statement concluded.

Walmart spokesperson Amanda Moss addressed the incident in a statement to the outlet on Wednesday, October 23. She revealed the staff were "heartbroken" over the 19-year-old's death, sharing:

"Our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family. Our focus remains on taking care of our associates and making sure they have the support they need."

"As police have stated, this is a very complex matter, and the investigation is ongoing. Our store will be closed until further notice," Moss concluded. However, she did not confirm if the late employee had been on a shift when she died.

Over a year before the tragic Walmart incident in Canada, The Blast reported that a veteran employee at the store's Maryland branch had rejoined the dating pool. In February 2023, 82-year-old Butch Marion went on a date with his benefactor's mother-in-law.

Rory McCarty, who created the viral GoFundMe page for Marion's retirement, shared the big news on social media. He revealed he set up the former Walmart employee with his mother-in-law, Nana, with a cute video of the pair.

The post went viral because Marion had been dumped by his girlfriend of 13 years just before Thanksgiving. He noted his ex left him to rekindle her romance with a high school sweetheart.

While the Maryland Walmart story ended on a high note for the veteran employee, how will the Canada tragedy play out?