Family Seeks Justice After Woman Found Dead in Miami Dollar Tree Freezer

The family of Helen Massiell Garay Sánchez, a 32-year-old Nicaraguan doctor found dead inside an industrial freezer at a Miami Dollar Tree in December 2025, has filed a civil lawsuit seeking over $50 million against the retail chain and the store's management.

This case, which has shocked the Hispanic community due to its puzzling circumstances, is now undergoing a legal shift that highlights alleged corporate negligence and significant lapses in safety protocols.

A Legal Battle for Wrongful Death

Filed on Wednesday, January 28, in Miami-Dade County, the lawsuit seeks to hold the company accountable for wrongful death, as reported by local media. The legal document claims that Dollar Tree acted negligently by allowing Helen access to a restricted area without staff assistance or security systems to prevent her entrapment.

The family asserts that Helen became trapped in the freezer and died from causes that remain officially unresolved. "The store failed in its duty to care for its customers, allowing Sánchez to enter the freezer without being warned of the danger," the lawsuit, cited by Univision, states.

Furthermore, the lawsuit directly points to the store manager, who, according to the plaintiffs, was informed on the night of December 13 that Helen had not left the store, yet failed to initiate any search protocol. "The store manager was given actual notice that she was missing and had not exited the premises, but took no reasonable steps to locate or assist Sánchez," the lawsuit alleges.

According to WTVJ, employees were also not trained to ensure no one remained inside at closing time, a negligence the family views as deadly.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Garay's husband and two minor children, who reside in Nicaragua and are seeking not only financial compensation but also a jury trial to clarify responsibilities.

Dollar Tree's Corporate Silence

So far, Dollar Tree's official response has been limited. In a brief statement to U.S. media, a spokesman for the company said, "We are aware of this tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the deceased. We are fully cooperating with the authorities at this time." They have not commented on the lawsuit details or explained how a customer accessed an industrial freezer in a restricted area without obstacles.

A Fateful Night in Little Havana

Helen Massiell Garay arrived in Miami on December 5, 2025, from Managua to visit her father. She was scheduled to return to Nicaragua on the 15th, but on the night of Saturday, December 13, she entered the Dollar Tree store located at 968 Southwest 8th Street in Little Havana, alone.

Security cameras captured her entering the store before 10:00 p.m.—the store's closing time—without making any purchases. She was later seen walking towards a restricted area, designated only for employees, where the industrial freezer was located. Helen never emerged. The next morning, Sunday the 14th, a store employee found her body inside the freezer, completely unclothed.

The employee immediately contacted the police, who identified the victim hours later.

Accident, Negligence, and "Paradoxical Undressing"

Although the autopsy is yet to be released and the official cause of death remains "pending," Miami Police have found no signs of violence, theft, or sexual assault. A police spokesperson cited by People noted, "There was nothing illegal. She entered the freezer alone," and ruled out any prior psychiatric disorder.

The fact that her body was found unclothed raised suspicions. According to Univision, a medical hypothesis known as "paradoxical undressing" is being considered, linked to severe hypothermia cases where victims feel a false sense of extreme heat before dying and remove their clothing.

"After prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, some individuals experience hallucinations or an internal burning sensation, which they mistake for warmth," explained medical experts. This explanation is currently the most plausible among Helen's close ones, although everything hinges on the official forensic report.

A Tragic Loss for Her Family

Helen Garay was an anesthesiologist specializing in congenital heart conditions. She was reportedly the only one with this specialty in Nicaragua. Her calling was child care, and she dedicated her life to saving children with complex heart problems. "Her compassion, skill, and commitment to saving young lives defined both her career and her character," wrote Stefany Pereira on the GoFundMe page aimed at raising funds for repatriating her body.

She was also remembered as a loving mother to two young children, who awaited her return in Nicaragua and now face the most challenging loss. "The family's greatest wish is to bring her back to Nicaragua for a proper funeral and final rest, surrounded by her loved ones," the fundraising campaign states.

More than a month after the tragic discovery, Helen Garay's case remains largely unresolved. Authorities have yet to conclude their investigation, the forensic report is still pending, and Dollar Tree maintains a low profile amid media and legal pressure.

Meanwhile, her family demands justice and insists that what happened should not be forgotten. The lawsuit for over $50 million marks the beginning of a legal process that could set precedents regarding corporate responsibility in commercial environments and internal security protocols.

"We still don't know how this happened. And they aren't providing us any answers," lamented her cousin, Daniela Cortez, to the New York Post.