A Florida doctor was mysteriously found dead inside a freezer at a Dollar Tree, a day after entering the store, according to a local report and her family.
The body of 32-year-old Massiell Garay Sanchez was found by an employee at a Miami Dollar Tree around 8 am Sunday morning, Miami Police told Local 10 News.
The young mom entered the store on Saturday night, but did not make any purchases. Investigators said she found an employee-only area where there was a freezer, and stayed there overnight.
Her body was found unresponsive by an employee the next morning, authorities said. The circumstances of her death are still under investigation, as the authorities have confirmed that she was not employed at the store.
“It’s a painful thing, a heartbroken family now because of the death of a person, and we don’t know what really happened,” said customer Gerardo Nunez to Local 10.
A young mother and a doctor were found dead inside a Dollar Tree freezer in Miami over the weekend, according to a report (GoFundMe)
Garay Sanchez was a “devoted doctor and loving mother,” who was originally from Nicaragua, according to a GoFundMe set up by her family.
“Originally from Nicaragua, Dr. Garay dedicated her life to medicine, gaining recognition as an Anesthesiologist specializing in congenital heart disease whose work brought hope and healing to countless children and families. Her compassion, skill and commitment to saving young lives defined both her career and her character,” her family wrote.
They continued: “Beyond her profession, she was a loving mother to two children, who remain in Nicaragua and were the center of her world. Her strength, warmth, and unwavering love for her family will always be remembered.”
The GoFundMe, set up to bring her body back to Nicaragua for a funeral, had received more than $2,600 in donations as of Monday morning.
The authorities said they ruled out foul play in her death, and maintained that she was not forced into the freezer.
The Dollar Tree location remained closed until approximately 1 pm Sunday as police investigated. Miami police said they are speaking with the family of Garay Sanchez while they continue to investigate the circumstances of her death. They are also trying to determine if she was dealing with any personal or mental health issues, Local 10 News reports.
Her death is being treated as an unclassified death, and authorities have not released further details.
The Independent reach out to Miami Police for more information.