Canada: 19YO Indian Woman Found Dead Inside Walk-In Oven At Supermarket

A 19-year-old Indian woman who worked at a supermarket in Halifax in Canada's Nova Scotia was mysteriously found dead inside the walk-in oven on October 19, Halifax Regional Police (HRP) said. The victim's identity has not been disclosed. According to The Globe and Mail newspaper, the teenager had recently moved to Canada from India and worked at Walmart. The investigation for her cause of death is underway.

Ongoing Investigations

The HRP said in a media statement that they received the report of a sudden death at the Walmart at 6990 Mumford Road around 9:30 pm. The employee's body was found inside the bakery division's walk-in oven. Police said that the investigation is complex and involves multiple partner agencies.

The Maritime Sikh Society confirmed that the victim was a member of their community. Anmolpreet Singh, a member of the Society, said, "It's very sad for us, for her family as well, because she came for a better future and she lost her life." Several speculations of foul play have emerged after her death.

HRP Constable Martin Cromwell said, "We understand the public is involved, and we just wanted to encourage the public to be patient with our investigation and be mindful that there are family members and coworkers involved. We urge the public to be mindful of sharing speculative information on social media."

Nova Scotia's medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death, and the province's Department of Health and Safety is taking part in the investigation. In a statement, Walmart Canada said the company is heartbroken and their thoughts are with the woman's family. 

The Nova Scotia's labour department said that a stop-work order has been issued for the bakery and “one piece of equipment” at the Walmart store. “It is important to note that the investigation has not yet reached a point where the cause and manner of death have been confirmed,” the HRP said.