The family of Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking more than $50 million after she was found dead inside a Dollar Tree freezer on Dec. 14, 2025. Police say Sanchez entered the store on Dec. 13, accessed an employee-only area, and remained in the freezer overnight; investigators reviewed video that showed no foul play. The suit alleges the store manager was on notice Sanchez had not exited and failed to act. Dollar Tree says it is cooperating with authorities while the family continues to seek answers.
Family Sues Dollar Tree for More Than $50 Million After Woman Found Dead in Store Freezer
Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez.GoFundMe
The family of 32-year-old Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dollar Tree and the manager of its SW 8th Street Miami location, seeking more than $50 million in damages after Sanchez was found dead inside a store freezer on Dec. 14, 2025.
Incident and Investigation
Miami police say Sanchez entered the store on Dec. 13 without making a purchase, accessed a restricted employee-only area, climbed into a freezer and remained there overnight. An employee discovered her body at about 8 a.m. on Dec. 14. Investigators obtained video footage from both the store and a family member that showed Sanchez entering the freezer on her own; police say there is no evidence of foul play and that mental illness was not considered a contributing factor.
Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez.GoFundMe
The Lawsuit
Filed in Miami-Dade County on Jan. 28, the wrongful death suit — brought on behalf of Sanchez's husband and two children — alleges Dollar Tree and the store manager were negligent. The complaint claims the manager was "placed on actual notice" that Sanchez had not left the premises and failed to take reasonable actions to locate or assist her. The family is seeking a jury trial and more than $50 million in damages.
Responses and Reaction
A Dollar Tree spokesperson said the company is "cooperating fully with the authorities" and expressed condolences to Sanchez's family. Relatives have said they still have questions about how the incident occurred; Sanchez's cousin told reporters the family had not received clear answers a week after the discovery.
About the Victim
A GoFundMe fundraiser described Sanchez as a Nicaraguan physician specializing in anesthesia for congenital heart disease who dedicated her life to treating children. The fundraiser noted she was a devoted mother of two children who remain in Nicaragua.
What This Raises: The lawsuit draws attention to store safety protocols for restricted areas, manager responsibilities when someone is reported missing, and how retail businesses monitor employee-only spaces.
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