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Doctor Found Dead in Dollar Tree Freezer
31 Jan
Summary
- Doctor found naked and unresponsive in a freezer.
- Family sues Dollar Tree for $50 million in damages.
- Investigators ruled out foul play in the death.
The family of Dr. Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez is pursuing a $50 million lawsuit against a Dollar Tree store and its manager following her death. Sanchez, 32, was found naked and unresponsive on the morning of December 14, 2025, inside an employee-only walk-in freezer at a Miami-Dade location.
The lawsuit claims Sanchez became trapped in the freezer overnight after entering the restricted area before closing on December 13, 2025. Her family alleges the store manager failed to take reasonable action to locate or assist her despite being aware she had not left the premises.
Investigators have determined there was no foul play involved in her death, classifying it as an 'unclassified death.' Security footage reportedly shows Sanchez entering the freezer area by herself, and an emergency release was present on the freezer door, which could be opened from the inside.
Sanchez, an anesthesiologist visiting from Nicaragua, left behind two children. A GoFundMe page was established to cover funeral costs, highlighting her dedication to treating children with congenital heart disease. As of Friday evening, the fundraiser had raised over $18,000.
