Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, a 32-year-old anesthesiologist from Nicaragua and devoted mother of two children, was found deceased inside a walk-in freezer at a Dollar Tree store in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood on December 14, 2025.
Sanchez, who specialized in congenital heart diseases and had been visiting relatives in Miami since early December, entered the store at 968 SW 8th Street on the evening of December 13 without making purchases. She subsequently accessed a restricted employee-only area and remained in the freezer overnight.
Miami Police Department officers responded around 8 a.m. after an employee discovered her unresponsive body upon opening the store. Dispatch reports noted she was found naked inside the cooler. She was pronounced dead at the scene, with no signs of forced entry or foul play detected initially.
The death is classified as unclassified pending the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s report, with investigators exploring possible mental health factors. Sanchez was not an employee of the store, and the circumstances of her entering the freezer remain under review.
As a physician dedicated to pediatric cardiology cases, Sanchez exemplified professional commitment in her native Nicaragua. Her role as a mother defined her personal life, leaving behind two young children who reside in her home country.
Family members gathered at the scene, seeking answers while cooperating with authorities. A GoFundMe campaign supports repatriating her body to Nicaragua for funeral arrangements surrounded by loved ones.
Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez lived a life well lived, marked by medical expertise in treating children with heart conditions, unwavering maternal love, and meaningful contributions to healthcare. Her tragic passing abroad highlights the profound loss felt across borders. The Miami community reflects on this incident with solemnity as the investigation continues.