A disturbing incident at a Wells Fargo corporate office in Tempe, Arizona, has sparked an investigation and raised serious questions about workplace practices after an employee was found dead at her desk — four days after she last scanned into the building.
Denise Prudhomme, 60, was discovered unresponsive in her cubicle on August 20 by building security, who then alerted the Tempe Police Department.
According to police records, Prudhomme had last scanned into the building at 7 a.m. on August 16, suggesting her body may have remained undiscovered for four days.
The incident has left coworkers shocked and concerned. One employee, speaking anonymously to local news outlet 12News, expressed disbelief: “It’s really heartbreaking and I’m thinking, ‘What if I were just sitting there?’ No one would check on me?”
Prudhomme’s workspace was reportedly located on the third floor, away from the main aisle, in an underpopulated area of the building. Several employees reported noticing a foul odor in the days leading up to the discovery but attributed it to faulty plumbing, unaware of the tragic situation.
The Tempe Police Department has stated that their preliminary investigation showed no obvious signs of foul play. The exact cause of death is pending determination by the Maricopa County medical examiner.
Despite the building having 24/7 security, Prudhomme’s absence went unnoticed for several days. One employee criticized the company’s response, stating, “That’s the scary part. That’s the uneasy part. It’s negligence in some part.”
Wells Fargo has expressed condolences and stated they are reviewing their internal procedures.
In a statement, the company said, “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.”
The bank has made counselors available to support employees and said they are fully cooperating with the police investigation.
However, some employees feel the company’s response has been insufficient, with one stating, “I just feel like they aren’t being transparent with us and somebody needs to acknowledge this.”