Mysterious Death at Dollar Tree Freezer in Miami
Miami, FL — A troubling discovery at a local discount store has left the community searching for answers after a woman’s body was found inside a freezer at a Dollar Tree in Little Havana early Sunday morning. Miami Police responded after an employee discovered the woman unresponsive in a restricted storage area of the store around 8 a.m. on December 14.
Victim Identified: Mother and Physician
Authorities later identified the deceased as 32-year-old Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, a mother of two children and a trained anesthesiologist originally from Nicaragua. Police believe the woman entered the store on Saturday night before it closed but made no purchases. Surveillance footage reportedly showed her moving toward the back storage room where a walk-in freezer is located.
Officials noted that Sanchez was not employed by Dollar Tree, and no evidence currently indicates foul play. The Miami Police Department has classified the case as an unclassified death pending further investigation into the circumstances that led to her presence inside the refrigerated unit.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Reaction
Police are continuing their investigation into the unusual case, and questions remain about how and why she accessed the freezer area. Store employees told reporters that Sanchez was not recognized as a regular customer, and investigators are looking into whether personal or health-related issues could have played a role.
Friends and family have launched a fundraiser to assist with repatriating her remains to Nicaragua for funeral services, highlighting the community’s shock and grief over the tragedy.
