Family of woman found dead in Miami Dollar Tree freezer files $50M+ lawsuit
The family of a woman whose body was found inside a walk-in freezer in a Miami Dollar Tree store last month is suing the chain and the store’s manager for over $50 million dollars.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade on Wednesday on behalf of the family of 32-year-old Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez.
According to the suit, Sanchez entered the store at 968 Southwest 8th Street on Dec. 13 and the next day a Dollar Tree employee found her body inside a walk-in freezer.
Miami Police said Sanchez walked into the store before it closed, didn’t buy anything, and then made her way to a freezer in the back storage room, where she spent the night.
The suit said Sanchez became trapped in the freezer and claims that Dollar Tree was negligent in failing to prevent Sanchez from accessing the freezer.
It also claims the manager was “placed on actual notice” that Sanchez was missing and hadn’t exited the store and “failed to take reasonable action to locate or assist Sanchez.”
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Sanchez’s husband and two children, seeks a jury trial and damages over $50 million.
NBC6 has reached out to Dollar Tree for a statement.
After the incident, police said they were investigating how and why Sanchez ended up in the freezer
“We’re not sure the state of mind of that woman, we’re not sure if she intentionally went into the freezer on her own will or if it was something completely accidental,” Miami Police spokesperson Kiara Delva said.
According to a GoFundMe, Sanchez was a doctor in Nicaragua.
Dollar Tree had released a statement after Sanchez’s death.
“We are aware of this tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the individual’s family and loved ones. We are cooperating fully with the authorities at this time,” the statement read, in part.
