Miami, Florida – Florida police are investigating the death of a 32-year-old anesthesiologist and mother of two who was found dead inside a freezer at a Dollar Tree store in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. Authorities say the case remains an unclassified death as investigators work to determine how she ended up in a restricted area of the store.
Woman Found Inside Employee-Only Freezer
The woman has been identified as Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, a physician originally from Nicaragua. Miami Police confirmed that officers were called to the Dollar Tree located at 968 SW 8th Street early Sunday morning after an employee discovered a body inside the store.
A Miami Police Department spokesperson said officers found Garay Sanchez inside a freezer located in an employee-only back storage area of the discount store. Workers told local media that she was not an employee of Dollar Tree.
A 911 dispatcher was heard over police radio stating that the caller had found a naked female inside the store’s cooler, prompting an immediate police response.
Police Say No Signs of Foul Play So Far
According to Miami Police, there are no immediate signs of foul play, though the investigation remains active.
“As of today, it is still being investigated as an unclassified death,” a Miami Police public information officer said Monday. “No foul play is suspected, but it is still an ongoing investigation.”
Authorities added that there is no indication Garay Sanchez was forced into the freezer, but they have not yet determined how or why she entered the restricted area.
Seen Entering Store the Night Before
Investigators say store employees reported seeing Garay Sanchez walk into the Dollar Tree on Saturday night, shortly before the store closed. According to workers, she did not purchase anything and was later seen heading toward the back of the store, where freezers used for storage are located.
It remains unclear how long she was inside the store or what happened between the time the business closed and when her body was discovered the following morning.
The Dollar Tree location was temporarily closed on Sunday while police conducted their investigation. The store later reopened the same day. Dollar Tree corporate representatives had not publicly commented as of Monday.
Community Reacts With Shock and Grief
News of the discovery stunned customers and nearby residents.
“It’s something painful,” one customer told local television reporters. “A family is heartbroken now because of the death of a person, and we don’t know what truly happened.”
Another shopper added, “I’m totally devastated. I can’t believe that inside a Dollar Tree you’d find a dead body.”
Members of Garay Sanchez’s family were seen at the store during the investigation, according to the Miami Herald, though they declined to speak with reporters.
Remembered as Dedicated Physician and Loving Mother
An online GoFundMe fundraiser describes Garay Sanchez as a highly respected anesthesiologist who specialized in congenital heart disease, dedicating her career to treating children with complex medical needs.
“Originally from Nicaragua, Dr. Garay dedicated her life to medicine, earning recognition as an anesthesiologist whose work brought hope and healing to countless children and families,” the fundraiser states.
The page describes her as a devoted mother of two, noting that her children currently live in Nicaragua and were “the center of her world.” The fundraiser characterizes her death as a tragic accident while abroad, though police have not confirmed those circumstances.
The individual who organized the fundraiser did not respond to media inquiries, and their relationship to Garay Sanchez has not been publicly clarified.
Investigation Ongoing
Police say they are continuing to review surveillance footage, interview witnesses, and await medical examiner findings to determine the exact cause and manner of death. Until those results are finalized, authorities have not ruled out any possibilities.
The case remains under active investigation as detectives work to piece together Garay Sanchez’s final hours and how she ended up inside a locked freezer in a retail store.
Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact Miami Police.
Share your thoughts or condolences in the comments below as the investigation continues.
