A 19-year-old woman was discovered deceased inside a walk-in oven at a Walmart store in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on October 19. She was found in the store’s bakery section, according to ABC News.
Halifax Regional Police announced that the cause and manner of the woman’s death are yet to be determined, labeling the investigation as “complex” due to the involvement of multiple partner agencies. Investigators are working closely with Occupational Health and Safety authorities and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service to uncover further details.
“This type of investigation could take significant time,” police stated, urging the public to avoid spreading unconfirmed information on social media out of respect for the family involved.
Walmart spokesperson Amanda Moss expressed the company’s sadness over the incident, noting that the Halifax store is closed for the time being. Moss added that Walmart is offering grief support services to its employees, including counseling and virtual care.
The Nova Scotia Department of Labor, Skills, and Immigration has also issued a stop-work order for the bakery area and specific equipment while investigations continue. Further updates are pending as authorities examine all potential factors related to the incident.
