MIAMI — The family of a woman who was found dead inside of a Miami Dollar Tree freezer last month has shared video with detectives that shows the victim minutes before she entered the freezer, a Miami police officer told Local 10 Tuesday.
The officer said the victim’s family has cooperated fully with the investigation since the beginning, and the medical examiner’s report should confirm what is seen in the video.
The officer did not disclose any further details about the video of Dr. Massiell Garay Sanchez, 32, an anesthesiologist originally from Nicaragua, but confirmed that mental illness was not a factor in her death.
According to Miami police, Garay Sanchez was found dead on the morning of Dec. 14 inside of a freezer at the Dollar Tree at 968 SW Eighth St.
Police said Garay Sanchez entered the store on her own the night before, but did not make any purchases.
Investigators believe she made her way to a restricted employee-only area, where the freezer is located, and remained there overnight. Her body was found unresponsive by employees who returned to the area the following morning.
According to the officer who spoke with Local 10 Tuesday, the door to the freezer was not blocked when Garay Sanchez was inside of it and there was even an “emergency release” so the freezer could be opened from the inside.
While her death remains under investigation, police ruled out foul play early on in the investigation, saying she was not forced inside.
As of Tuesday, Garay Sanchez’s manner/cause of death remain “pending.”
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