A 32-year-old woman was found dead inside a walk-in freezer at a Dollar Tree on Southwest Eighth Street early Sunday, prompting a police investigation that closed the Little Havana store for hours as detectives gathered evidence, authorities said.
City of Miami police said an employee discovered the body around 8 a.m. at the store in the 900 block of SW 8th Street and called 911. Homicide detectives responded along with Miami Fire-Rescue and the medical examiner. Officials emphasized the inquiry is ongoing and classified the case as an “unclassified death,” a designation used when the cause and manner are not yet determined. The woman was later identified by police as Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, 32. Investigators said early findings did not indicate she was forced into the freezer, but they have not released a final ruling on whether foul play was involved.
Patrol officers secured the business shortly after the 8 a.m. call and taped off access to a rear prep area near the freezer while customers were turned away at the door. Detectives interviewed employees and reviewed overnight activity, including whether anyone stayed inside after closing. Officer Michael Vega, a department spokesperson, said the case would remain with homicide detectives until the medical examiner determines how the woman died. “We are treating this as an unclassified death while we gather facts,” Vega said, noting that any update on cause or manner will come from the medical examiner’s office.
Store staff told investigators they arrived to open the shop and conduct routine checks when the body was found in the back area, according to police. Officers documented the scene and requested surveillance footage from inside the business and from nearby cameras along Southwest Eighth Street. Paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene. Detectives said preliminary information suggested the woman may have remained inside the store overnight, but they did not immediately detail how she gained access or whether the freezer door was blocked or latched from the inside.
The medical examiner took custody of the body for autopsy and toxicology testing. Police said there were no immediate signs of a struggle in public areas of the store, but they cautioned that full findings would depend on lab results and specialized examinations of the freezer unit. Investigators also requested store maintenance records and any recent service calls for the refrigeration system. Officers canvassed adjacent businesses on the Eighth Street corridor, asking owners to share camera footage from late Saturday through early Sunday.
Little Havana is a dense, mixed commercial and residential neighborhood where early-morning deliveries and late-night foot traffic are common. The Dollar Tree is part of a small shopping strip just west of downtown. Unusual deaths in commercial settings typically trigger parallel checks by building inspectors and state workplace regulators, though police did not announce any separate agency reviews Sunday. Neighbors who stopped near the police tape said they saw multiple patrol units and crime scene technicians enter and exit the store throughout the morning while managers spoke with detectives.
Police formally identified the victim as Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez after notifying next of kin. Officials did not immediately release her address or employment status. Detectives said they were working to reconstruct the hours before the discovery, including whether she had contact with store staff or others nearby on Saturday night. The department asked anyone who interacted with the woman or saw activity behind the store overnight to speak with investigators; officers also sought rideshare and transit data that might show her movements.
Authorities did not announce any arrests. No criminal charges have been filed. Once the medical examiner issues a cause and manner of death, detectives will determine whether the case remains a death investigation or becomes a criminal inquiry. If a criminal offense is identified, prosecutors with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office would review potential counts and evidence. If the death is deemed accidental, police typically close the case after documenting the findings and notifying the family.
Outside the store Sunday afternoon, the front doors stayed locked while workers inside spoke quietly with police. Shoppers who arrived to buy household supplies turned away toward nearby markets. “It’s sad and shocking for our neighborhood,” said Miguel Ortiz, who lives a few blocks away and walked up as officers photographed the storefront. A woman who said she works in the strip described seeing detectives carry paper evidence bags from the back hallway as traffic crawled past on Eighth Street.
By late afternoon, the police perimeter had narrowed but the freezer area remained sealed as detectives awaited additional guidance from the medical examiner. Investigators plan to review more video and interview additional witnesses Monday. Officials said they will release further updates after autopsy results and next investigative steps are complete.
Author note: Last updated December 14, 2025.