🚨 SHOCKING AUTOPSY REVEALED: The medical examiner just dropped the bombshell on Dr. Helen Garay’s death inside that Miami Dollar Tree freezer — and it’s igniting massive controversy! 😱💔

Everyone expected foul play, murder, or something sinister after the 32-year-old anesthesiologist and mom of two was found frozen in the walk-in freezer back in December. Whispers of negligence, cover-up, even questions about how she ended up there naked and alone…

But the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office now rules:

The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office has officially determined the cause of death for 32-year-old Dr. Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, the anesthesiologist and mother of two found dead inside a walk-in freezer at a Dollar Tree store in Little Havana, as environmental hypothermia, with ethanol (alcohol) use listed as a contributing factor.

The autopsy report, released February 11, 2026, classified the manner of death as an accident. Associate Medical Examiners Jusmita Saifullahn and Nicholas Barna noted Sanchez’s blood ethanol level at 0.112% and ocular fluid ethanol at 0.156% — both exceeding Florida’s legal driving limit of 0.08%. No evidence of trauma, defensive wounds, or third-party involvement was found, and authorities have consistently ruled out foul play since the discovery on December 14, 2025.

Sanchez, a physician visiting from Nicaragua, entered the Dollar Tree at 968 SW Eighth Street with her sister on December 13. According to police and court filings, the pair had been drinking earlier that evening. Sanchez reportedly wandered into the store’s back storage area, accessed the restricted walk-in freezer, and became trapped after her sister left. The store closed for the night, and an employee discovered her body the next morning between boxes in the freezer. Miami Fire Rescue pronounced her dead at the scene.

The chilling circumstances sparked immediate questions and widespread speculation online about how a professional woman ended up in such a vulnerable position. Initial reports noted she was found naked, adding to the mystery and fueling theories of possible assault or foul play. However, investigators quickly determined no criminal elements were present, with the focus shifting to accidental entry and failure to escape the sub-zero environment.

The autopsy’s emphasis on alcohol as a contributory cause has intensified debate. Ethanol impairs judgment, coordination, and the ability to recognize danger — factors that could explain why Sanchez might have entered the freezer mistakenly or been unable to exit once inside. Hypothermia sets in rapidly in such conditions, leading to confusion, loss of consciousness, and eventual cardiac arrest if untreated.

Despite the official ruling, Sanchez’s family has rejected the accident classification and launched aggressive legal action. A wrongful death lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County seeks more than $50 million from Dollar Tree and its management, alleging gross negligence. The complaint claims the store allowed unauthorized access to a hazardous restricted area, failed to adequately secure the freezer, and did not respond properly when Sanchez was reported missing by her sister before closing time. The suit argues a thorough search could have saved her life.

Family members, through a GoFundMe page and public statements, have described Sanchez as a devoted mother and skilled doctor who was in South Florida as a tourist. They express profound grief and disbelief that such a preventable tragedy occurred. “She was vibrant, caring, and full of life,” one relative posted online. The family has emphasized the emotional toll on her two young children.

Dollar Tree has not publicly commented on the lawsuit specifics, but company representatives have previously expressed condolences while cooperating with authorities. Store policies typically restrict non-employees from back areas, including freezers, for safety reasons.

The case has reignited discussions about alcohol’s role in tragic accidents, corporate responsibility for premises liability, and mental health or impairment risks during travel. No evidence suggests mental illness factored into the incident, per police statements.

Community reaction in Little Havana has been one of shock and sorrow. Residents expressed devastation at the morbid discovery in a familiar neighborhood store, with some calling for better security measures in retail spaces.

As the civil case proceeds, the autopsy provides a clear medical explanation: a combination of alcohol impairment and prolonged exposure to extreme cold led to fatal hypothermia. Yet questions linger for many — how did she access the freezer undetected? Why wasn’t she found sooner? The $50 million suit ensures these issues will be examined in court.

For Sanchez’s loved ones, the ruling brings some closure but little comfort. A promising life cut short in bizarre, heartbreaking circumstances continues to haunt those left behind and spark national conversation about safety, oversight, and the dangers of even one wrong turn.