Teen's Family Is Traumatized After Her Body Was Mysteriously Found Dead in Walk-in Oven, Community Members Say

Mar. 15, 2025

Gursimran Kaur’s mom “is telling everyone that she wants justice for her daughter,” said a local member of the Sikh community in Halifax, CanadaAnother local echoed that, saying, “The immediate family is absolutely shocked. They are in kind of a traumaPolice say their investigation is ongoing and have cautioned against speculationGursimran Kaur arrived in Canada from India “with big dreams” and had been working at her local Walmart in Halifax for about two years when, according to one account,the 19-year-old appeared to vanishduring a shift earlier this month.Her mother also worked with her and went looking for where she’d gone, members of the Maritime Sikh Society, who say Kaur’s family is a part of their community,wrote in a fundraiserset up to support them.Kaur’s mom “asked around, but everyone brushed [that] aside thinking that she [Kaur] may be somewhere helping a customer,” the society wrote in its fundraiser. “Walmart is a superstore after all!”Strangely, Kaur’s phone “was not reachable,” according to the society, and her mom “started panicking as it was unusual for her to switch her phone off during the day.”Within hours on Oct. 19, Kaur’s momdiscovered her body in a walk-in ovenin the store bakery — a tragedy thathas devastated her loved onesand remains under investigation, according to police and the Sikh community.“Of course, the immediate family is absolutely shocked. They are in kind of a trauma,” Harjit Seyan, the Maritime Sikh Society president,told Canada’s Global News.The Walmart in Halifax, Canada, where an employee was found dead earlier this month.AlamySatnam Randhawa, a Maritime Sikh Society board member, echoed that,telling NBC News, “The first day I saw [Kaur’s mom] was the day the incident happened. She was really distraught. She was really in great pain.”Balbir Singh, the society’s secretary,told the CBCthat Kaur’s mom “is telling everyone that she wants justice for her daughter.”“She is not in a state where she wants all of this to be hushed up,” he said.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Kaur’s father and brother have been in their native India, according to the Sikh society, which wrote in its fundraiser that “we are trying to get them here as soon as possible.” The CBC reported that they live in India’s state of Punjab.About $140,000 was raised for the family before donations stopped being accepted so the money could be disbursed, the Sikh society wrote. They remembered Kaur as a “beautiful girl."“Your kindness and generosity have been a source of strength for the family as they navigate through this tragedy,” organizers wrote.Singh, the society’s secretary, previously told PEOPLE “this fundraising started with permission from the immediate family, and all the proceedings will go to [Gursimran’s] mother.”Gursimran Kaur.GoFundMeHalifax police have so far released few public details beyond noting that their work will be complicated and “may take a significant amount of time.”“We urge the publicto be mindful of sharing speculative informationon social media,” police said in a statement last week. “Please be aware of the impacts that speculation could have on family, colleagues and loved ones of the woman.““It is important to note that the investigation has not yet reached a point wherethe cause and manner of deathhave been confirmed,” police said.The Walmart where Kaur worked remains closed, according to a company spokeswoman.“Our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family,” said the spokeswoman, Amanda Moss. “Our focus remains on taking care of our associates and making sure they have the support they need.”

Gursimran Kaur arrived in Canada from India “with big dreams” and had been working at her local Walmart in Halifax for about two years when, according to one account,the 19-year-old appeared to vanishduring a shift earlier this month.

Her mother also worked with her and went looking for where she’d gone, members of the Maritime Sikh Society, who say Kaur’s family is a part of their community,wrote in a fundraiserset up to support them.

Kaur’s mom “asked around, but everyone brushed [that] aside thinking that she [Kaur] may be somewhere helping a customer,” the society wrote in its fundraiser. “Walmart is a superstore after all!”

Strangely, Kaur’s phone “was not reachable,” according to the society, and her mom “started panicking as it was unusual for her to switch her phone off during the day.”

Within hours on Oct. 19, Kaur’s momdiscovered her body in a walk-in ovenin the store bakery — a tragedy thathas devastated her loved onesand remains under investigation, according to police and the Sikh community.

“Of course, the immediate family is absolutely shocked. They are in kind of a trauma,” Harjit Seyan, the Maritime Sikh Society president,told Canada’s Global News.

The Walmart in Halifax, Canada, where an employee was found dead earlier this month.Alamy

Alamy

Satnam Randhawa, a Maritime Sikh Society board member, echoed that,telling NBC News, “The first day I saw [Kaur’s mom] was the day the incident happened. She was really distraught. She was really in great pain.”

Balbir Singh, the society’s secretary,told the CBCthat Kaur’s mom “is telling everyone that she wants justice for her daughter.”

“She is not in a state where she wants all of this to be hushed up,” he said.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Kaur’s father and brother have been in their native India, according to the Sikh society, which wrote in its fundraiser that “we are trying to get them here as soon as possible.” The CBC reported that they live in India’s state of Punjab.

About $140,000 was raised for the family before donations stopped being accepted so the money could be disbursed, the Sikh society wrote. They remembered Kaur as a “beautiful girl.”

“Your kindness and generosity have been a source of strength for the family as they navigate through this tragedy,” organizers wrote.

Singh, the society’s secretary, previously told PEOPLE “this fundraising started with permission from the immediate family, and all the proceedings will go to [Gursimran’s] mother.”

Gursimran Kaur.GoFundMe

GoFundMe

Halifax police have so far released few public details beyond noting that their work will be complicated and “may take a significant amount of time.”

“We urge the publicto be mindful of sharing speculative informationon social media,” police said in a statement last week. “Please be aware of the impacts that speculation could have on family, colleagues and loved ones of the woman.”

“It is important to note that the investigation has not yet reached a point wherethe cause and manner of deathhave been confirmed,” police said.

The Walmart where Kaur worked remains closed, according to a company spokeswoman.

“Our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family,” said the spokeswoman, Amanda Moss. “Our focus remains on taking care of our associates and making sure they have the support they need.”

David Chiu

source: people.com