Investigators in Halifax are staying tight-lipped about the death of Gursimran Kaur, whose body was discovered last month in a Walmart oven
Walmart is removing the walk-in commercial oven from its Halifax store where a young employee’s remains were discovered last month, but investigators still aren’t saying what led to Gursimran Kaur’s death.
The 19-year-old’s body was discovered Oct. 19 by her mother, who also worked at the same Mumford Road Walmart. Kaur and her mother, originally from India, moved to Canada about three years ago.
“They are in a terrible situation,” Rimple Dhunna, a local realtor, said of the deceased teen’s family, whom he visited earlier this week.
“Her daughter died, and they did not even get any response from the police or any investigating officer (regarding) what’s going on, how did that happen, all those questions. They are devastated.”
Kaur’s family is plagued by the question: how did she die?
“I was there at their home last night, but nobody knows yet,” Dhunna said Wednesday.
Halifax Regional Police are staying tight-lipped about their probe into Kaur’s death.
“What I can tell you at this point is that the investigation is still open, and our investigators are still working diligently on this matter,” Const. Martin Cromwell, who speaks for the force, said in an email.
“At the moment, we do not have any further updates or details to provide the public.”
The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration lifted a stop-work order Oct. 28 for the Walmart’s bakery area and the commercial oven. But the probe into Kaur’s death remains ongoing.
“It is still an active investigation for us,” Sarah MacNeil, a department spokesperson, said.
When asked whether investigators have come to any conclusion that Kaur’s death was an accident, or whether something else caused her death, MacNeil said: “We won’t be able to release any details like that at this time where it’s still an ongoing investigation.”
She refused to provide a copy of the stop-work order issued Oct. 22 or say how many investigators are working on the case. “A copy of the stop-work order and the number of department investigators working on the Walmart Mumford Road case cannot be shared at this time as this is an ongoing investigation.”
Walmart confirmed Wednesday the oven where Kaur was found is being removed.
“This is an extremely sad and difficult situation,” Amanda Moss, a Walmart spokesperson, said in an email.
“Removing the oven had always been part of the standard remodel program we are implementing across the country. Now that the stop-work order has been lifted by the Department of Labour, the oven will be removed from this store and will no longer be used.”
In a letter to employees on Oct. 27, Walmart said the store would be shut down for at least another week. But the company did not provide a reopening date.
“Our store remains closed until further notice,” Moss said Wednesday.
Kaur was part of the Sikh community and had been working at the Walmart store for a couple of years.
“They are here now,” Dhunna said.
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