After a month of investigation, Halifax police in Nova Scotia, Canada, have released the findings of their inquiry into the case of a woman found dead in a oven of Walmart store.
On the evening of October 19, police responded to an emergency call at the Walmart located at 6990 Mumford Rd., where they discovered the body of Gursimran Kaur, an employee of the store.
Halifax police found the 19-year-old’s lifeless body inside “a large walk-in oven belonging to the store’s bakery department.”
Walmart Halifax Case Closed
After an extensive investigation, Halifax Regional Police confirmed that Kaur’s death was not suspicious. In a statement issued Monday, authorities declared, “There is no evidence of foul play.”
Martin Cromwell, public information officer for Halifax Regional Police, provided further details in a video statement:
“We conducted several interviews, reviewed video footage, and worked very closely with our partners at the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and medical examiner service.”
The officer said there was no indication of anyone else’s involvement in the young woman’s death.
“We do not believe anyone else was involved in the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death,” he said.
With this declaration, police have concluded their criminal investigation into the case.
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How Did Gursimran Kaur’s Family React?
The Maritime Sikh Society in Halifax identified Kaur and launched a fundraiser to support her family during this difficult time. The organization shared harrowing details, revealing that Kaur was found by her own mother, who also worked at the same Walmart.
According to the fundraiser, Kaur’s mother began searching for her after not seeing her for more than an hour. She asked coworkers for help and tried to contact her by phone, but was unsuccessful.
“The mother started panicking as it was unusual for her to switch her phone off during the day,” the fundraiser noted. “Imagine the horror her mother experienced when she opened the oven, after someone pointed it out to her!”
Kaur and her mother had worked at that Walmart for two years and were originally from India.
Has the Halifax Walmart Reopened?
Following the incident, the Walmart where the tragedy occurred was closed “until further notice,” according to a statement provided to local media. CBC reported that the store remained closed as of Monday.
Additionally, the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration issued a stop-work order on October 22 that affected the bakery department and specific equipment within the store. The order was lifted on October 28 after the oven was inspected and deemed to be operating in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
What’s Next in the Case Investigation?
Although the police investigation has concluded, the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration continues to lead a workplace investigation.
“Now that Halifax Regional Police have concluded their investigation, effective November 18, the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration has assumed the lead in the ongoing workplace investigation,” the department said in a statement released Monday.
Meanwhile, Walmart has announced that the bakery oven will be removed from the Halifax store as part of a standard remodeling program being implemented nationwide.
