Canada - Gursimran Kaur, 19, Walmart worker found dead inside bakery oven - October 22, 2024

[LadyL]

Interestingly, some time ago I read a book about a young man who tried to kill himself by fire. He wrote that the pain was so severe that he simply couldn't bear it, and ended up saving his own life. I think there's a reason we don't often see suicide of that manner - even painful suicides don't usually require enduring pain when there is an "easy" alternative.

Many suicidal individuals also consider the effect of the discovery/clean-up their loved ones will face. (Supposedly why many people choose to die in the bathtub.) This would be a very strong choice.

I do hope that LE is able to honor the family's wishes soon, and put an end to any speculation that is troubling them. It must be very difficult to read hypothetical last moments over and over, wondering what the victim was thinking/feeling.

funny you should mention that - when I wrote my post, I was thinking of the guy recently who set himself on fire in front of the capital I think? not sure - some American political institution anyway (sorry I'm not from the U.S.) but there's a thread here on WS about it - yeah he died despite people trying to save him - I think his beliefs were just that strong and he was just that determined to make himself a martyr

but I agree that most people do not choose it

 

[Chimera]

Following as I'm trying to find out how this happened.
From reading the posts, it sounds suspicious as the door could be opened from the inside ?
Waiting to hear about an update.
So sorry for this young woman and my utmost condolences to her loved ones.
Her death hardly bears thinking about, I can't imagine.

It's almost worse (imo) than the young lady who sadly froze in a walk in freezer in Chicago (I think it was ?).
She'd been at a hotel party with friends and got lost.
I want to think she may have drifted to sleep ?
Omo.

 

[floridafreshsqueez]

<modsnip - quoted post had no link>
My fear is:

a.) She was “trapped” because someone held the door shut on purpose

b.) She was already incapacitated or dead and was put inside the oven to obscure evidence

I don’t think this girl did a Sylvia Plath, JMO. Women usually don’t opt for extreme suicidal methods. Of course there are exceptions, I just don’t think that’s the case here.

So another employee noticed “leakage” and then the mother opened the oven, without issue (presumably). Were there no other bakery employees in the store? I’m confused why dispatch dispatch said it was unclear if they knew how to turn it off. The panel doesn’t appear to be that complicated.

I just don’t understand how she ends up there shortly before the store closes. It she was only one of few bakery employees left before closing, how would she be missing for long enough to be burned that badly? It seems implied she was alone in the bakery…even if the interior release button was broken, the door would have to be forced shut to begin with. If someone accidentally shut the door in passing and left the area, it still does not explain why the door would be forced shut and the oven turned on.

Even while cleaning the oven, you don’t need to be all the way inside it to do so. You can simply squeegee from the outside with the door open.

I don’t understand why the oven would be turned on, the door shut, and the emergency button not work. That’s a lot of factors that need to align for it to be some kind of accident that resulted in her not being able to escape.

No one would be baking right before close. Even if the oven automatically turns on upon close…why would you leave an oven running at night with no one there?

The fact that the Halifax police describe the investigation as “complex” is interesting. How the 911 caller would describe the victim as being “trapped” when the door does not lock confuses me.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

“It’s been more than a week since the death of 19-year old Halifax Walmart employee Gursimran Kaur, whose body was discovered in an industrial oven in the store’s bakery.

As of Monday, the Walmart on Mumford Road remains closed, marked only by caution tape. Her grieving family and community say they have been left in the dark with no word on the circumstances surrounding the cause.

“There’s only three or four different things that could have occurred. They not only have to prove one of them to be what occurred but to prove three to not be what occurred,” said Chris Lewis, CTV News public safety analyst and former commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police.”

Community awaits answers in death of Halifax Walmart employee found in store oven

The family of a Halifax Walmart employee who was found dead inside an oven in the store is still waiting for answers more than a week after her death.

atlantic.ctvnews.ca

In the above article, the Sikh Society deking closely with the family also said Walmart has been inactive and indifferent with her mother.

The store remains closed as different agencies are still investigating. The journalist writing the story reached out to Baxter MFG, the manufacturer of the ovens Walmart uses, but they had no comment.

 

[No_Stone_Unturned]

From Lexi’s article above. It says three or four things could have happened. What are they? I can only think of these:
1. She went in there all by herself
2. She was placed in there dead or alive.

 

[realanastasia]

From Lexi’s article above. It says three or four things could have happened. What are they? I can only think of these:
1. She went in there all by herself
2. She was placed in there dead or alive.

1a. She went in there intentionally with self-harm as the goal
1b. She went in there intentionally and somehow accidentally got trapped in there
2a. She was placed in there, still alive but possibly injured or incapacitated, by someone else
2b She was placed in there, already deceased, by someone else

 

[Chimera]

It would be nice for her family and/or a detective to be able to view all of the store's security footage that day.
If they were able to determine the time of death, and also if there were any wounds on the young woman that didn't coincide with be burned ?

 

[acehard]

The store is still closed after a week? That sounds like a serious investigation. I don't think it's self harm. MOO

 

[ChatteringBirds]

In the above article, the Sikh Society deking closely with the family also said Walmart has been inactive and indifferent with her mother.

The allegation is that Walmart has not reached out to her mother, who was also their employee and who found her daughter deceased, with any kind words or support? (And the other employees who were there?)
I wonder if that's true. If so, it certainly seems heartless and horrible. It seems like they could help arrange something for them. I imagine the employees who were there will all suffer from trauma, such as PTSD. They will need counseling...not to mention practical and funeral expenses. IMO.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

The allegation is that Walmart has not reached out to her mother, who was also their employee and who found her daughter deceased, with any kind words or support? (And the other employees who were there?)
I wonder if that's true. If so, it certainly seems heartless and horrible. It seems like they could help arrange something for them. I imagine the employees who were there will all suffer from trauma, such as PTSD. They will need counseling...not to mention practical and funeral expenses. IMO.

The reports from a few days ago said that Walmart is covering the wages and is offering counseling to all employees. I think the the Sikh Society wants them to be more involved with her and transparent with the investigation so far. (Based on the article I linked).

I think Walmart should have a specialist of some type designated to to assisting her with whatever she needs, imo. Take time with the investigation, but let her know what they’re doing and what the next steps will be.

 

[Panniniclaus]

You have to believe Walmart's lawyers are advising local Management to say nothing.
I also wonder if the store may close permanently. May depend on how this investigation unfolds.

 

[LaborDayRN]

There is a picture of the 'interior door release' in the operating manual for this Baxters oven. It looks like the type of large button you'd push with your palm, and seems to be located on the door.

Hopefully the store has lot's of cameras that they are reviewing. It's possible someone held the door shut I imagine.

 

[LittleSeaTree]

Walmart had to pay Tracy Morgan $90 million after the horrendous car accident with one of their trucks, fwiw. Obviously they might not be at fault here, but…

 

[acehard]

You have to believe Walmart's lawyers are advising local Management to say nothing.
I also wonder if the store may close permanently. May depend on how this investigation unfolds.

I doubt they will close because of this. They're one of the biggest ruthless corporations. Yeah the lawyers are probably battling it out to reduce liability etc. MOO

 

[Inthedetails]

I doubt they will close because of this. They're one of the biggest ruthless corporations. Yeah the lawyers are probably battling it out to reduce liability etc. MOO

I find it a bit odd the store closed completely rather than closing the bakery/food section but leaving other areas open.

I hope we find out the answers, and, like others, I'm assuming the cameras will provide a picture of what happened.

jmo

 

[TTF14]

I find it a bit odd the store closed completely rather than closing the bakery/food section but leaving other areas open.

I hope we find out the answers, and, like others, I'm assuming the cameras will provide a picture of what happened.

jmo

I don't really find that odd. They'd have to search many areas (i.e. breakrooms, other places employees loiter) for clues if she was murdered by someone who works there. I'm just surprised it's taking this long with all the cameras Walmart has.

As always JMO.

 

[LaborDayRN]

I find it a bit odd the store closed completely rather than closing the bakery/food section but leaving other areas open.

I hope we find out the answers, and, like others, I'm assuming the cameras will provide a picture of what happened.

jmo

Maybe LE want to question all the employees. I imagine that would be easier to do in the store rather than chasing them all down at their homes.

 

[TTF14]

Maybe LE want to question all the employees. I imagine that would be easier to do in the store rather than chasing them all down at their homes.

Excellent point.

 

[No_Stone_Unturned]

Do we know where exactly in Walmart she worked? Was it in the bakery? I don't recall seeing that info in any link here but I could be mistaken. Also, does anyone one know who, in the bakery section, actually uses the ovens? There have to be people who do the baking and others who display the products, take special orders, etc.

 

[Warwick1991]

Thinking about Walmart's attitude towards both its bottom line and its workforce, I wonder whether Walmart is withholding CCTV footage from Halifax police. I don't know enough about the legal procedures needed if Walmart is not cooperating. Walmart would probably be asked about accounting for all employees in the building, attendance records, disgruntled former employees, potential outside threats, and of course, who works in the bakery section. I hope there is some level of cooperation. We can only speculate here.

The Walmart is a large worksite - employee interviews and evidence collection may take a long time.

IMO, this is not a suicide. I think @No_Stone_Unturned's scenario 2 applies.. I think Ms Kaur was placed in the oven. Perhaps this is a rejected suitor or serial harasser in the workplace. I hope the COD can be established from the remains.