Cause of Death Revealed for Woman Found Inside Dollar Tree Freezer

The cause of death for a woman found dead inside a Dollar Tree freezer in Miami just got revealed.

Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, 32, was found dead inside a freezer at the store on SW 8th Street on December 14, 2025.

The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Wednesday her cause of death was environmental hypothermia. Ethanol use contributed, according to NBC6, WPLG, and the Miami Herald.

Sanchez's ethanol levels were 0.112% in her toxicology report. Ocular fluid ethanol was 0.156%. That's above the legal limit to drive.

Hypothermia happens when the body's core temperature drops below 95 degrees. Left untreated, it causes the heart and respiratory system to fail, eventually leading to death.

What Happened

Sanchez entered the Dollar Tree without buying anything on December 13. She went to an employee-only area and stayed inside the freezer overnight.

An employee found her dead around 8 a.m. the next morning.

Police got footage from a family member and from the store. "This is why we know there was no foul play," a police spokesperson said. "She went into the freezer on her own."

Police also ruled out mental illness as a factor.

The Family's Lawsuit

In January, Sanchez's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dollar Tree and the location's manager. They're suing for over $50 million.

The family claims Dollar Tree was negligent by not preventing Sanchez from accessing the freezer. They also claim the manager was "placed on actual notice" that Sanchez was missing and hadn't left the store. The manager "failed to take reasonable action to locate or assist Sanchez."

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Sanchez's husband and two children.

Dollar Tree's Response

Dollar Tree said they're "cooperating fully with the authorities." "We are aware of this tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the individual's family and loved ones."

In a February 2 statement, a spokesperson added, "Our thoughts continue to be with the individual's family and loved ones. While we do not comment on active legal matters, we continue to cooperate fully with authorities."

Who She Was

Sanchez was from Nicaragua where she worked as a doctor as an anesthesiologist specializing in congenital heart disease. "She brought hope and healing to countless children and families," according to a GoFundMe organizer.

Her two children who remain in Nicaragua "were the center of her world," her loved ones said.

The family is raising funds to cover repatriation, transportation, and funeral services in Nicaragua.

Nothing About This Makes Sense

A 32-year-old doctor and mother of two walked into a Dollar Tree on December 13, didn't buy anything, went to an employee-only area, climbed into a freezer, stayed there overnight, and died from hypothermia.

Her blood alcohol was 0.112%. Above the legal driving limit. But police ruled out mental illness.

According to dispatch audio obtained by local media, Sanchez was found naked. That detail only adds to the mystery of what happened.

And here's another thing—according to Dollar Tree, there's an emergency release inside the freezer to get out. The entryway wasn't blocked. She couldn't have been trapped in there.

So she went into a freezer that had an emergency release. The door wasn't blocked. And she stayed there all night while her body temperature dropped and heart and respiratory system failed. Somehow she was naked in the midst of freezing to death.

Police say no foul play. She went in on their own. Video footage confirms it. But her family is suing for over $50 million. They say Dollar Tree was negligent. They say the manager knew she was missing and didn't look for her.

The medical examiner ruled hypothermia with high ethanol as a contributing factor. Police ruled out foul play and mental illness. Dollar Tree says there was an emergency release and the door wasn't blocked.

Sadly, none of that explains what actually happened or why.

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