FL - Woman's body found inside freezer at Dollar Tree Store, Miami, Dec. 14, 2025

[DS2021]

NEW DETAILS: Alcohol use contributed to the death of a Nicaraguan doctor whose body was found in a Miami Dollar Tree freezer in December, according to an autopsy report obtained by Local 10 News.

Alcohol use contributed to death of doctor found in Miami Dollar Tree freezer: Autopsy

Authorities said the 32-year-old anesthesiologist is believed to have walked into a restricted employee area, into the freezer and then became trapped, remaining there overnight. Her body was found unresponsive by employees who returned to the area the following morning. Detectives ruled out foul play.

The toxicology report from the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office states that Garay Sanchez had a blood ethanol level of 0.112%, which would have been above the legal limit to drive, and an ocular fluid ethanol reading of 0.156%.

She did not have any illicit drugs in her system, however. Her cause of death was listed as environmental hypothermia with ethanol use as a “contributory cause.”

 

[Elisaa444]

I'm a tad surprised that the employees didn't do a sweep prior to closing as well. I work at Harris Teeter part-time and have for years. Every night before we close two people split the store and hit all the aisles, restrooms, break room, behind the deli and bakery counters, etc. (and an employee in our warehouse does the same back there). There have been many times we have found people especially in our restrooms. Last time I found someone it was a woman who was very sick in the bathroom stall.

I can't imagine leaving her in there all night and the Dollar Tree store isn't even that big (at least not where I live) so it wouldn't take a long time to checkout the store.

I don't know if I worked there and someone came up to me and said they couldn't find their family member I would check my store. I mean it is a human being regardless if she was intoxicated or trespassing. Plus, I wouldn't feel comfortable locking up my store knowing someone came in and now they can't find the person. I'm guessing the employees thought there is no way she is in the store. In their defense, I imagine they never thought she would go into the freezer.

My opinion is biased I guess since I personally have found people throughout our grocery store when we were closing down. This is sad. I know her family is likely having a hard time accepting what happened. For *some* family (like mine) it is easier on them to put the blame on anyone, but their family member.

Moo.

 

[ttcRider]

I can understand hiding in the bathroom or in the back of a store but who chooses to hide in a freezer? Just doesn't make any sense. Why was she hiding from her sister?? This case just really bugs me. JMO

 

[airportwoman]

Regarding her BAC, we don't know how long she was in the freezer before she died. She may have been far more intoxicated when she walked in.

 

[Spectrix]

BBM
She had been drinking with her sister with whom she entered the store. The sister left after not finding Garay. I still don't understand why she didn’t call 911 right away. MOO JMO

Pat, could you please link to the info about her drinking with her sister? I must have missed that part.

 

[PatLaurel]

Pat, could you please link to the info about her drinking with her sister? I must have missed that part.

Woman froze to death inside Dollar Tree store in Miami, autopsy report shows

 

[AnyNameIWish]

Woman froze to death inside Dollar Tree store in Miami, autopsy report shows

So she didn't just randomly wander in drunk, alone!!! She walked into DT with her sister after drinking and dining...

Sister couldn't find her (DT is open til 9 or 10pm) , went home, and went to bed???
Sounds like there was a lack of urgency there. I don't understand this behavior, and doubtfully neither would a jury.

**********
Authorities said that she had been drinking at a local restaurant, and was later noted by law enforcement to be intoxicated.

Just after 7 p.m. that evening, she and her sister walked into a Dollar Tree in Little Havana and began to look through the store's aisles.

Sanchez's sister said she couldn't locate her inside the store after a period of time and approached store associated for help.

At the time, police said store staff were unable to access surveillance video from the store, and the woman's sister ended up leaving to continue her search.