Autopsy Confirms Cause of Death for Doctor Found in Florida Dollar Tree Freezer
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office has released the official cause of death for Dr. Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, the 32-year-old physician discovered deceased and naked inside a Dollar Tree freezer in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood last December. according to the report released Wednesday, Dr. Sanchez died of “environmental hypothermia,” with alcohol consumption listed as a significant contributory factor.
Deep Search: Forensic and Scene Details
The autopsy report indicates that Dr. Sanchez, a Nicaraguan anesthesiologist specializing in congenital heart disease, had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.112% at the time of her death—above Florida’s legal driving limit of 0.08%. Toxicology results showed no evidence of illicit drugs in her system. Medical examiners noted that in addition to signs of fatal cold exposure, the doctor sustained minor blunt force injuries, including contusions on her hands, hips, and lower extremities, which investigators believe may have occurred as she attempted to escape the locked unit or succumbed to disorientation.
The sequence of events began on the evening of December 13, 2025. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Dr. Sanchez entering the Dollar Tree at 968 SW 8th Street and walking into a restricted, employees-only stockroom where the commercial freezer was located. She was not discovered until 8:00 a.m. the following morning by store staff opening for business.
Background: A Career Cut Short
Dr. Sanchez was visiting South Florida from Nicaragua to see family over the holidays. Back home, she was a respected medical professional and a mother of two children. Her family described her as a dedicated physician whose work focused on saving the lives of children with heart defects. Following the tragedy, her body was repatriated to Nicaragua for burial, funded in part by community donations.
Objections and Ongoing Legal Battle
Despite the medical examiner’s ruling of accidental death, significant questions and legal challenges remain regarding the circumstances. The detail that Dr. Sanchez was found naked has fueled widespread speculation; while forensic experts often attribute such behavior to “paradoxical undressing”—a phenomenon where hypothermia victims remove clothing due to a false sensation of burning heat—the family contends that the store bears responsibility for her death.
Dr. Sanchez’s family has filed a lawsuit seeking damages in excess of $50 million against Dollar Tree and the store manager. The complaint alleges negligence, arguing that the store failed to secure the restricted area and that staff did not follow proper safety protocols to ensure the premises were clear before closing. The lawsuit claims the store had a “duty of care” to protect patrons from foreseeable risks, including access to dangerous equipment like walk-in freezers. As of this report, Dollar Tree has not issued a detailed comment on the pending litigation.
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