A tragedy at the Perryville Cereal Plant leaves a 38-year-old man dead in an industrial oven, prompting investigations into how this horrific accident happened.
At a Glance
- A 38-year-old worker was found dead inside an industrial oven at the Gilster-Mary Lee cereal plant in Perryville, Missouri.
- The victim was identified as Nicolas Lopez Gomez, a Guatemalan national who was working under an alias.
- The oven was not operational at the time, and authorities say it is unclear how the man ended up inside the machine.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation into the fatal workplace accident.
A Tragic Accident at a Cereal Plant
A worker at the Gilster-Mary Lee cereal plant in Perryville, Missouri, was found dead on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after he somehow became trapped inside a large industrial oven. The victim was identified by the Perry County Coroner’s Office as Nicolas Lopez Gomez, a 38-year-old Guatemalan national who was reportedly working under the alias of Edward Avila.
Emergency services, including the Perryville Police and Fire Departments, responded to the scene around 3 p.m. but were unable to render aid. “Upon arrival, officers, Emergency Medical Services, and the Perryville Fire Department attempted to render aid, but once they were able to gain access to the male, he was deceased,” the police department said in a statement.
An Unanswered Question
The circumstances surrounding Gomez’s death remain a mystery. According to a report by Fox News, the industrial oven was “shut down” and not operational at the time of the incident. Gomez’s assigned task was to power wash the exterior of the machine.
“It is unclear at this time how he ended up inside the machine,” a police spokesperson said. Investigators have stated that foul play is not suspected.
OSHA Investigation Launched
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a formal investigation into the fatal accident. “OSHA has been contacted concerning this accident and will be conducting its investigation,” the Perryville Police Department confirmed. The federal agency will work to determine how the incident occurred and whether any workplace safety protocols were breached.
The Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation, which has operated for over 125 years, released a statement to CBS News confirming the death of the nine-year employee. The company said it is cooperating fully with OSHA and is also conducting its own internal investigation into the tragic event.
