Doctor found dead in freezer as family launches $50 million lawsuit | World | News

A mother-of-two was discovered deceased inside a freezer at a supermarket after becoming trapped – with her relatives now pursuing a substantial legal claim against the retailer. The tragic incident saw police recover Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez’s unclothed body from the freezer in December 2025 – though authorities believe there was no criminal activity involved in the devastating occurrence.

Her body was discovered in the freezer within a staff-only section of the supermarket, but investigators say there were no signs she had been “forced” into it, despite being found without clothing. Helen’s relatives are now engaged in a new $50 million legal action, which alleges a manager directed an employee on shift “not to review the surveillance footage” and failed to take “reasonable action to locate or assist her” when she went missing. She was reportedly observed by staff members entering the premises on the Saturday evening before closing time.

Authorities say she made no purchases and was seen heading towards a freezer in the rear storage area. Now, the 32 year old anaesthesiologist’s relatives have condemned the supermarket manager for being “negligent” and failing to install and maintain adequate safety mechanisms within walk-in fridges and freezers, reports the Mirror.

The mother was discovered at a Miami Dollar Tree last year, with Miami Police Department telling LawandCrime: “We received a call from an employee, who reported that there was a deceased woman inside of the business, inside of the freezer. No foul play is suspected, but it’s still an active and ongoing investigation.”

According to her family’s legal complaint, “While an invitee on the premises, Sanchez became trapped inside a walk-in freezer located within the Dollar Tree Store and thereafter sustained fatal injuries,” the document states. They argued Dollar Tree owed Helen, along with other customers, a “nondelegable duty” of care regarding the ownership, operation, inspection, maintenance, and supervision of the Dollar Tree Store.

The supermarket manager, Yanelkis Gonzalez, was informed the mother hadn’t left the premises, and was reportedly requested by a customer to “review available surveillance footage” in an attempt to find Sanchez, the complaint alleges, but he purportedly declined.

The complaint states: “Gonzalez affirmatively instructed the Dollar Tree employee not to review the surveillance footage,” He stands accused of “failing to implement, train employees on and enforce reasonable closing-time policies”. The family further alleges the freezer where Helen’s body was located was “faulty” and staff “failed to prevent shoppers from accessing it”.

The complaint also highlighted Dollar Tree’s negligence, stating the company breached its duty of care to Helen by “failing to install, maintain, and/or implement adequate safety mechanisms within the walk-in freezer, including but not limited to an internal emergency release, latch, or alarm, to prevent entrapment.”

Originally from Nicaragua, Sanchez’s family set up a GoFundMe which describes her as a “devoted” doctor and “beloved” mother who “dedicated her life to medicine, earning recognition as a Anesthesiologist specialising in congenital heart disease whose work brought hope and healing to countless children and families,” according to the description.