The authorities have determined the cause of death for the mother who died inside a Dollar Tree freezer located in Miami. The authorities discovered 32-year-old Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez dead inside a Dollar Tree freezer, which was located on SW 8th Street. The investigation rapidly became a widely known case throughout Miami and other areas.
The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office reported on February 11 that she died from environmental hypothermia. The report indicated that her ethanol consumption contributed to her death. The update was covered by local news organizations, which included NBC6, WPLG, and the Miami Herald.
Her toxicology report showed that her blood alcohol concentration reached 0.112 percent. The report indicated that ocular fluid ethanol content reached 0.156 percent. Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks. The legal driving limit in Florida stands at 0.112 percent blood alcohol level.
Hypothermia occurs when the body’s core temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The body enters a state of hypothermia, which causes the heart and breathing functions to decrease until complete failure occurs. The condition will result in death if it receives no medical attention. The winter safety lesson in school about hypothermia provided information to me, which showed how fast body functions stop when exposed to cold temperatures. The case connects to my understanding of hypothermi,a which makes it more disturbing to me.
The Miami Dollar Tree Store experienced an event that led to this situation.
Police claimed that Sanchez entered the Dollar Tree store on December 13 but did not purchase any products. The reports indicated that she entered a zone restricted for employees and spent the night inside the freezer.
A store employee discovered her inside the freezer at 8:00 a.m. The following day.
The investigators examined the store security video together with the video material that a family member provided. The police reported that their investigation found no evidence indicating foul play. The surveillance footage showed that she entered the freezer on her own, according to police evidence. A police officer also told WPLG that mental illness was not considered a factor in this case.
The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dollar Tree and the store manager in January in Miami-Dade County court.
The family is seeking damages that exceed 50 million dollars from the defendants.
The lawsuit states that the company did not prevent her from entering the store freezer. The manager received information about Sanchez’s disappearance from the store but failed to conduct the necessary search operations to locate her.
The case was filed on behalf of her husband and two children.
Dollar Tree issued a statement that the company currently assists authorities while expressing condolences to Sanchez’s family. The company announced it would withhold additional comments about the case because the legal proceedings remain active.
Helen Sanchez came from Nicaragua. The GoFundMe page established for her family confirms that she dedicated her life to medicine as a physician. She worked as an anesthesiologist who treated children with congenital heart defects and their families.
The fundraiser reported that she passed away while traveling abroad, and her two children currently reside in Nicaragua. The family needs funds to cover the costs of transporting her body and conducting her funeral and repatriation for her burial in her native land.
The content of these stories creates difficulty for readers to process. A mother, a doctor, someone who helped kids, and then something like this happens. People realize that life can change suddenly after they experience this event. You may also be interested in: Pennsylvania Beef Sticks with Fish Hooks Found in Easton Raise Serious Warning for Dog Owners
