Cause of Death Revealed for Mom of 2 Found Dead in Dollar Tree Freezer

The cause of death for a mother of two found dead inside a freezer at a Dollar Tree in Miami has been released.

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

On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Sanchez’s cause of death as environmental hypothermia, with ethanol use listed as a contributory factor, according to local media outlets NBC6, WPLG and the Miami Herald.

Sanchez’s ethanol level was reported at 0.112% in her toxicology report, according to NBC6. A reading of ocular fluid ethanol was also reported at 0.156%, according to WPLG. Ethanol is used in alcoholic beverages, and a blood ethanol level of 0.112% is above the legal limit to drive, according to 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 can ultimately lead to death, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Authorities previously said Sanchez entered the Dollar Tree without buying anything on Dec. 13, according to NBC6 and WPLG. She then reportedly went into an employee-only area and remained inside the freezer overnight.

Sanchez was found in the freezer by an employee at around 8:00 a.m. the following morning.

In January, Sanchez’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Miami-Dade County against Dollar Tree and the location’s manager, according to NBC6.

The family, who are seeking more than $50 million, alleged the company was negligent in failing to prevent Sanchez from accessing the store’s freezer. They also alleged the manager was notified that Sanchez was missing and had not exited the store, but failed to take reasonable action to locate or assist her, according to NBC6.

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

Police have said they reviewed footage provided by a family member and from the store. A police spokesperson said the footage indicated there was no foul play and that Sanchez entered the freezer on her own.

A police officer who spoke to WPLG also previously ruled out mental illness as a factor.

In a statement, a Dollar Tree spokesperson said the company was cooperating with authorities and expressed condolences to Sanchez’s family and loved ones. The spokesperson also said the company would not comment on active legal matters but would continue to cooperate with authorities.

Sanchez, who was from Nicaragua, worked as a doctor and was described as being dedicated to medicine, according to a GoFundMe page created to support her family. The fundraiser said she was an anesthesiologist specializing in congenital heart disease and that she provided care to many children and families.

The fundraiser also stated that Sanchez died while abroad and that her two children remain in Nicaragua. The family is raising money to cover repatriation, transportation and funeral costs in Nicaragua, according to the organizer.