Anesthesiologist found dead in Dollar Tree freezer
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Inset: Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez (GoFundMe). Background: The Miami Dollar Tree where Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez was reportedly found naked and dead inside of a freezer (WPLG).

Authorities in Florida are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 32-year-old anesthesiologist and mother of two, whose body was discovered in a freezer at a Miami Dollar Tree, as reported by officials.

A representative from the Miami Police Department informed Law&Crime on Monday that “the death remains under investigation as unclassified,” indicating that the mystery is still unresolved.

The deceased, identified as Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, was found on Sunday morning at the Dollar Tree located at 968 SW 8th Street in Little Havana. A 911 dispatcher, as reported by local CBS partner WFOR, indicated that a caller discovered a naked woman in the store’s cooler.

According to a spokesperson from the Miami Police Department, “An employee alerted us to a deceased individual within the store’s freezer. While no foul play is currently suspected, the investigation is still open and active.”

Upon responding to the scene on Sunday, officers found Garay Sanchez’s body in a freezer situated in a staff-only area of the discount store, as reported by local TV channel WPLG. Store employees confirmed that she was not employed by the store.

Police say it doesn’t appear that Garay Sanchez was forced into the freezer, but it’s still unclear how she ended up there. She was seen by workers walking into the store Saturday night before it closed; the woman didn’t buy anything and was reportedly spotted making her way to a freezer in the back storage room.

Dollar Tree management could not be reached for comment on Monday. The store was closed while police investigated. It reopened later in the day Sunday, WPLG reports.

“It’s something painful,” a customer told the station. “A family heartbroken now because of the death of a person, and we don’t know what truly happened.”

Another person told WFOR, “I got to be honest with you, I’m totally devastated. I can’t believe in the Dollar Tree you’d find a dead body.”

The Miami Herald reported seeing members of Garay Sanchez’s family at the store as police investigated and were on scene Sunday. They declined to speak to media.

“Originally from Nicaragua, Dr. Garay dedicated her life to medicine, earning recognition as a Anesthesiologist specializing in congenital heart disease whose work brought hope and healing to countless children and families,” a GoFundMe description says about the “devoted physician and beloved mother,” with the page first being reported by WPLG.

“Her compassion, skill, and commitment to saving young lives defined both her career and her character,” the GoFundMe says. “Beyond her profession, she was a loving mother to two children, who remain in Nicaragua and were the center of her world. Her strength, warmth, and unwavering love for her family will always be remembered.”

The person who started the online fundraiser did not respond to Law&Crime’s request for comment on Monday. Their relation to Garay Sanchez is unclear. They describe the doctor’s death as a “tragic accident while abroad.”

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