The sudden death of a Walmart employee requires a “lengthy” investigation

The investigation into the sudden death of a 19-year-old Walmart employee in Nova Scotia, whose body was found in “a large walk-in oven” in the store's bakery section, is expected to be “lengthy,” according to a Walmart spokesman, according to Halifax Regional Police.

The teenage employee, whose name was not released, was found on Oct. 19.

According to the Halifax Regional Police spokesman, the “complex” investigation is being conducted by officers from the Halifax Regional Police, the Halifax Coroner's Office and the Halifax Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Division. It's difficult to speculate whether the investigation will take weeks or months, she said.

According to a Walmart spokesperson, the Walmart store in Halifax will remain closed until further notice.

The company issued the following statement: “We are heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our employee and his family. “Our focus remains on caring for our employees and ensuring they receive the support they need.”

The statement continued: “As police have advised, this is a very complex matter and investigations are ongoing.”

Representatives from the Halifax coroner's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the Nova Scotia Department of Labor said it was reviewing the media request.

The Halifax Regional Police spokesman released an update on the investigation Wednesday: “Halifax Regional Police continue to investigate the sudden death of a 19-year-old woman who was found at Walmart at 6990 Mumford Road on October 19. This is important to note. “The investigation has not yet reached a point where the cause and manner of death have been confirmed.”

The statement continued: “The investigation is complex and involves multiple partner agencies. An investigation of this type can take a lot of time. We urge the public to exercise caution when sharing speculative information on social media. Please be aware of the impact speculation could have on the woman’s family, colleagues and loved ones.”

With more than 500,000 residents, Halifax is the most populous city in Atlantic Canada. Walmart first ventured into Canada in 1999 with 122 stores and expanded its presence there to 300 stores by 2008. In 2013, the Mumford Road location was converted into one of the chain's largest branches. It originally opened in 2001 as a Walmart discount store and reportedly expanded to offer a full line of groceries and other select foods found in traditional Walmart stores.

The Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada reported that 18 Nova Scotians died at work in 2023, compared to 24 people in 2022. By comparison, 5,486 workers were killed at work in the U.S., according to the AFL-CIO.

According to the Nova Scotia Workers Compensation Board, 1,827 retail injuries were reported last year. With an assessable payroll of $1.8 million, the injury rate was 0.94 percent last year – a slight increase compared to 0.91 percent in 2022.