Officials investigating after Wells Fargo employee is found dead 4 days after scanning into work

Global financial giant Wells Fargo's 68-acre office complex in the City of Chandler's Price Road Corridor. Chandler^ Arizona - Nov. 20 2023

A Wells Fargo employee was found dead at an office in a Tempe, Arizona, four days after scanning into work.

According to the Tempe Police Department, 60-year-old Denise Prudhomme checked into work on Friday, Aug. 16 around 7 a.m., and never scanned back out. Tempe police responded to the Wells Fargo office in the 1100 block of West Washington Street after on-site security called the police about an employee they believed to be dead on Tuesday, Aug. 20; she was pronounced dead at 4:55 p.m.

Per NBC affiliate KPNX of Mesa, Arizona, Sgt. Ryan Cook said police found Prudhomme in a cubicle on the third floor of the multi-level Wells Fargo building, away from the main aisle. An employee who spoke to KPNX on the condition of anonymity said a colleague found her at her desk while walking around the building and that several people had smelled a foul odor, but believed it to be faulty plumbing.

Sgt. Cook said that the cause of death is is pending determination by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner, but police say a preliminary investigation did not show any obvious signs of foul play. The Office of the Medical Examiner will make a further medical determination.

In a statement provided to CBS News affiliate AZFamily, Wells Fargo said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague at our Tempe office. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and loved ones during this difficult time. Counselors, through our Employee Assistance Consulting service, are available to support our employees. We are fully cooperating with the Tempe Police Department in their investigation and will direct all further questions to them.”

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