Cause of Death Revealed for Mom of 2 Found Dead in Dollar Tree Freezer
Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, 32, was found dead inside a freezer at a Dollar Tree store in Miami on Dec. 14, 2025
NEED TO KNOW
The cause of death for a woman who was found dead inside a freezer at a Dollar Tree in Miami has been revealed
Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, a 32-year-old mother of two, was found dead inside a freezer at the discount store on Dec. 14, 2025
Authorities previously said Sanchez climbed inside the freezer the night prior and was there overnight, before being found by employee at around 8:00 a.m.
The cause of death for a mother of two found dead inside a freezer at a Dollar Tree in Miami has released.
Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, 32, was found dead inside a freezer at the discount store on SW 8th Street on Dec. 14, 2025, PEOPLE previouslyreported.
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Sanchez’s cause of death as environmental hypothermia, with ethanol use being a contributory cause, according to local media outlets NBC6, WPLG and the Miami Herald.
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Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez.
GoFundMe
Sanchez’s ethanol levels were found to be at 0.112% in her toxicology report, per NBC6. A reading of ocular fluid ethanol was also at 0.156%, according to WPLG.
Ethanol is used in alcoholic beverages. A blood ethanol level of 0.112% is also above the legal limit to drive, per the outlet.
Hypothermia occurs when the body’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees. “Left untreated, hypothermia can cause the heart and respiratory system to fail and eventually can lead to death,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
PEOPLE has contacted the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office for comment
Authorities previously said Sanchez entered the Dollar Tree without buying anything on Dec. 13, according to NBC 6 and WPLG.
She then reportedly went to an employee-only area and stayed inside the freezer overnight.
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Sanchez was found deceased in the freezer by an employee at around 8:00 a.m. the following morning, PEOPLE previously reported.
In January, Sanchez’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Miami-Dade County against Dollar Tree and the location’s manager, per NBC 6.
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A Dollar Tree store on SW 8th St in Miami.
Google Maps
Sanchez’s family, who are suing the chain and store’s manager for over $50 million, claimed Dollar Tree was negligent in not preventing Sanchez from accessing the store’s freezer.
They also claimed that the manager was “placed on actual notice” that Sanchez was missing and hadn’t exited the store and that the manager “failed to take reasonable action to locate or assist Sanchez,” per NBC 6.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Sanchez’s husband and two children.
A police spokesperson previously told PEOPLE that they obtained footage from a family member and from the store.
“This is why we know there was no foul play,” the spokesperson said. “She went into the freezer on her own.”
A police officer who spoke to WPLG also previously ruled out mental illness as a factor in her death.
In a statement, a Dollar Tree spokesperson previously told PEOPLE that the company was “cooperating fully with the authorities at this time.” “We are aware of this tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the individual’s family and loved ones,” they added.
A company spokesperson also added in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Feb. 2, “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.”
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Sanchez, who was from Nicaragua, worked as a doctor and was “dedicated her life to medicine,” according to a GoFundMe page started to support her family in the wake of her death.
She was recognized as an anesthesiologist specializing in congenital heart disease and “brought hope and healing to countless children and families,” according to organizer Stefany Pereira.
Her loved ones said she died while abroad, and that her two children “who remain in Nicaragua” “were the center of her world.”
“The family is currently raising funds to cover the costs of repatriation, transportation, and funeral services in Nicaragua,” a message on the fundraiser read. “Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help honor her life and legacy and support her children during this devastating time.”
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