A teenage Walmart employee was found dead at her Canadian superstore in a mystery reportedly involving a large baking oven.
The 19-year-old worker was found around 9:30 p.m. Saturday at a Walmart in Halifax, Nova Scotia, according to local police, who said Occupational Health and Safety was called in to help in the “sudden death” investigation.
While Halifax cops said Monday that “the cause and manner of death” were still under investigation, multiple sources told Global News that it involved a large baking oven that was still on when authorities arrived.
However, the sources did not say exactly how she died, and police would not elaborate or confirm that an oven was involved, the outlet said.
Asked about the oven, Walmart told Global News: “We can’t confirm or share any additional details.”
The retail giant said it was working with cops and “out of respect for the associate and their family, we cannot provide any additional information.”
The teen was a member of the local Sikh community who had only lived in Canada a few years, Satnam Singh Randhawa, chair of the Maritime Sikh Society board, told CBC News.
“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,” he said.
On Monday, crime scene tape and police vehicles were still outside the store — though it was not immediately clear if investigators believed the woman’s death was criminal in nature, the CBC reported.
“The investigation is complex,” Constable Martin Cromwell told the outlet.
“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.”
While a forensic identification team was on site, police and other agencies were not able to access the area yet in order “to preserve the integrity of the scene and its evidence,” Cromwell added.
“When that work is complete, HRP investigators and other agencies like [Occupation Health and Safety] will then be provided access,” he said.
The store was open when police arrived, but was quickly shut down, Cromwell added.
Walmart Canada did not immediately respond to The Post’s questions about when the site would reopen.
Walmart spokesperson Amanda Moss told the CBC that staff members were given access to virtual and on-site support, including grief counseling.
“We are heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family,” she said in a statement. “We extend our sincerest condolences to those who were closest to them.”
The Halifax Regional Police did not immediately return The Post’s request for an update on the investigation.
