The reason behind the death of a bank employee, discovered lifeless at her desk after four days, has been disclosed.
In August, Denise Prudhomme passed away while working at Wells Fargo in Tempe, Arizona.
Prudhomme’s last recorded entry into the workplace was at 7:00 am on August 16, as confirmed by Tempe police to 12News.
However, there were no records of her leaving the building afterwards.
Building security personnel contacted emergency services after finding the 60-year-old unresponsive at her desk on the third floor.
Authorities later verified that Prudhomme was discovered slumped over at her desk in a cubicle.
Her cubicle was reportedly positioned away from the main aisle, and complaints arose from office staff about a foul odor that had developed in the area.
The smell was initially attributed to faulty plumbing, but it was actually due to the body beginning to decompose.
A Wells Fargo employee, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their thoughts on the tragedy with 12 News, which had a profound impact across Arizona.
They expressed: “It’s really heartbreaking and I’m thinking, ‘What if I were just sitting there?’ Would no one check on me?
“That’s the scary part. That’s the uneasy part. It’s negligence in some part. I’m just wondering why they didn’t formally address employees about it?”
After several months, a report by the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner has been released, detailing Prudhomme’s cause of death.
She died of ‘sudden cardiac death in the setting of myocardial fibrosis’, with the death being classified as natural.
Police had indicated back in August that the cause of death was natural, ruling out any suspicion of foul play.
Following this tragic event, Wells Fargo released a statement to 12News.
A company spokesperson stated: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague at our Tempe office. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time.”
The bank affirmed its commitment to fully cooperate with authorities in their investigation.
A Wells Fargo representative also communicated: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague, Denise Prudhomme. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones, and we are in contact to ensure they are well supported during this difficult time. We are committed to the safety and wellness of our workforce. Counselors are available to support any employees impacted by this event.”