A Wells Fargo employee was found deceased at her desk in Tempe, Arizona on August 16. Authorities identified the dead woman as 60-year-old Denise Prudhomme. Police suggest her body sat at her desk for four days.
An investigation is underway to determine why no one discovered Prudhomme’s body for days.
Tempe police confirmed to 12News that Prudhomme last scanned her card into the building at 7 a.m. on August 16.
Building security called 911 after discovering Prudhomme unresponsive at her desk on August 20.
Police said Prudhomme was slumped at her desk inside a cubicle. A colleague found her there on the third floor away from the main aisle.
Workers had complained of a foul odor for days as Prudhomme’s body began to decay at her desk. But they dismissed the odor as faulty plumbing.
“It’s really heartbreaking and I’m thinking, ‘What if I were just sitting there?’” A co-worker said. “No one would check on me?”
Authorities said some of Wells Fargo’s employees worked remotely from home. But security should have found the body sooner.
No foul play is suspected in Prudhomme’s death. She is believed to have died from natural causes.
The employee said the lack of information from Wells Fargo is particularly troubling.
“That’s the scary part. That’s the uneasy part,” the employee said. “It’s negligence in some part.”
“I’m just wondering why they didn’t formally address employees about it?,” the worker said.
A Wells Fargo spokesperson issued a statement to 12News:
“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 statement read.
The spokesperson said grief counselors are available to employees, and the bank is “fully cooperating” with the Tempe Police Department’s investigation.
