MIAMI — Florida police are investigating how a 32-year-old anesthesiologist and mother of two was found dead inside a freezer at a Dollar Tree store in Miami, authorities said.
Miami police identified the woman as Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez. As of Monday, her death remains classified as unclassified and under investigation, according to a Miami Police Department spokesperson.
Officers responded Sunday morning to the Dollar Tree located at 968 SW 8th Street in Little Havana after an employee reported finding a deceased woman inside a freezer. A 911 dispatcher was heard on a police scanner saying a naked woman had been discovered inside the store’s cooler, according to CBS affiliate WFOR.
Police said Garay Sanchez was found inside a freezer located in a restricted, employee-only area of the store. Workers told local station WPLG that she was not an employee.
Investigators said there were no immediate signs of foul play, and it does not appear that Garay Sanchez was forced into the freezer. However, authorities have not determined how she entered the area or what led to her death.
According to police, store employees saw Garay Sanchez walk into the Dollar Tree Saturday night shortly before closing. She did not purchase anything and was reportedly seen heading toward a freezer in the back storage area.
The store temporarily closed while police conducted their investigation but reopened later Sunday, WPLG reported. Dollar Tree management could not be reached for comment.
Several customers expressed shock over the incident, with one telling WPLG that the situation was heartbreaking for the victim’s family and that many questions remain unanswered.
The Miami Herald reported that family members of Garay Sanchez were present at the scene during the investigation but declined to speak with media.
A GoFundMe page identified Garay Sanchez as an anesthesiologist originally from Nicaragua who specialized in congenital heart disease. The fundraiser described her as a devoted physician and a loving mother whose two children live in Nicaragua.
Police said the investigation remains active as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
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