Woman Found Dead in Miami Dollar Tree Freezer, Family Files $50M Lawsuit

The tragic death of a 32-year-old anesthesiologist has raised concerns about retail safety and employee training protocols.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The recent death of Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, a 32-year-old anesthesiologist, after being found in a walk-in freezer at a Miami Dollar Tree store has sparked outrage and a $50 million lawsuit. Sanchez's family alleges negligence on the part of Dollar Tree and its manager, claiming they failed to prevent access to the freezer and did not take adequate action after being informed she was missing.

Why it matters

This incident highlights growing concerns about retail safety, employee training, and the potential for negligence in large chain stores. While deaths inside store freezers are rare, incidents involving customer and employee safety within retail environments are increasingly common, ranging from slip-and-fall accidents to security breaches and instances of violence.

The details

According to police reports, Sanchez entered the Dollar Tree store on December 13, 2025, and was later discovered deceased inside a freezer on December 14, 2025. The initial investigation suggests she became trapped inside the freezer. The wrongful death lawsuit filed by Sanchez's family claims Dollar Tree failed to prevent access to the freezer and that the store manager did not take adequate action after being informed she was missing.

  • Sanchez entered the Dollar Tree store on December 13, 2025.
  • Sanchez was found deceased inside the freezer on December 14, 2025.

The players

Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez

A 32-year-old anesthesiologist who was found deceased inside a walk-in freezer at a Miami Dollar Tree store.

Dollar Tree

A large chain discount store that is facing a $50 million lawsuit over the death of Sanchez.

Dollar Tree Store Manager

The store manager who allegedly failed to initiate a search or offer assistance after being informed that Sanchez was unaccounted for.

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What they’re saying

“We must ensure that no one else suffers a similar fate due to negligence and lack of proper safety protocols.”

— Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez's Family (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow the $50 million lawsuit to proceed against Dollar Tree.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the urgent need for retailers to prioritize customer and employee safety, enhance security measures, and implement comprehensive training programs to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.