Halifax police have concluded their investigation into the tragic death of 19-year-old Gursimran Kaur, who was found inside a walk-in oven at the bakery department of a Walmart store last month.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Halifax Regional Police confirmed that the investigation has been closed, with no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities stated that "there was no evidence of criminal activity" and the death was not considered suspicious.
Kaur, an employee at the store, was discovered by her mother on October 19. Reports indicate that Kaur's body was found severely burned inside one of the bakery's large ovens. Her mother, who had worked at the Walmart for two years, was reportedly the one to make the grim discovery.
The tragic incident has raised numerous questions, but police have emphasized that their investigation found no indication of criminal involvement.
"We understand that there have been many questions about what happened. Thorough investigations take time," Martin Cromwell, the Public Information Officer of the Halifax Regional Police, said.
"As a part of the investigation, we conducted several interviews and reviewed video footage. I can share that our investigation has not led us to suspect foul play. We do not believe anyone else was involved. We acknowledge the public's interest in this case, and that there are questions that can never be answered," he added.
Last month, Halifax police described the investigation into Gursimran Kaur's death as "complex," noting that it involved collaboration with several partner agencies.
Reports indicate that Kaur had worked at the Walmart store for two years, alongside her mother, who was the one to discover her body. Kaur's father and brother, however, reside in India.
Following Gursimran Kaur's death, some Walmart employees speculated that she may have been locked inside a walk-in oven and "baked to death."
A TikTok video by Chris Breezie, a co-worker, went viral last month, where she suggested that the oven Kaur used while working at the Walmart turned on from the outside. Breezie also pointed out that the oven's door handle was "really hard" to open.
"I don't even know if I would fit in here," Breezie, who claimed she was 5 foot 1, said while demonstrating how the oven at Walmart works. "I would have to crouch down to get in."
In the video, Breezie also highlighted that the walk-in oven was equipped with an emergency latch on the inside, adding that there were no tasks at Walmart that would require a worker to physically enter the oven.
"There is no way possible somebody could lock themselves in there," Breezie said.
Another employee, identified as Mary, expressed her confusion over the incident, stating that it "doesn't make any sense" since the oven door does not close on its own.
Mary further explained that the oven door is "designed not to do that. You have to push it, hear the click."
She added, "I'm not trying to theorize or form a conspiracy, it's just hard to wrap my head around it when Walmart's bakery ovens are so safe to use."
(Source: NDTV World)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
