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The discovery of the lifeless body of a Nicaraguan doctor in the freezer of a Dollar Tree store in Miami has taken on a new and disturbing aspect: the woman was found completely nude.
The revelation, which initially sparked all sorts of speculation, now points to an unusual medical explanation known as “paradoxical undressing”, related to the extreme effects of hypothermia.
While the police investigation continues without any signs of homicide or arrests, the details that are emerging suggest that Helen Massiell Garay Sánchez, 32, may have died from accidental causes, in a scenario that is as unusual as it is puzzling.
Nude in an industrial freezer: Accident or physiological phenomenon?
The question has circulated strongly since the news broke: who undresses inside an industrial freezer?
Helen's body was found without clothing, which raised immediate suspicions of violence.
However, so far the police have not found any signs of physical aggression or indications of a crime.
One of the most striking hypotheses that has gained traction is that of the phenomenon known as "paradoxical undressing," observed in at least 25% of deaths from severe hypothermia.
It is about a neurological deterioration caused by prolonged exposure to cold, which leads the victim to experience a false sense of warmth or "internal burning."
"After spending a long time exposed to freezing temperatures, some individuals experience neurological deterioration that can lead to hallucinations, as well as an internal burning sensation that they mistake for warmth," explain specialists cited by Univision.
Under that illusion, some people begin to take off their clothes, just before entering a coma and dying.
Although it is not an official confirmation, this theory has been pointed out by close associates of Helen as the most plausible explanation, and it could be supported by the results of the autopsy, which are still pending publication.
A doctor passing through Miami: She did not live in the United States
Another crucial piece of the puzzle is that Helen Garay did not reside in the U.S.
He had traveled from Managua, Nicaragua, on December 5 to visit his father, intending to return on the 15th.
It was a short family visit, characterized by its ordinariness, according to those close to them.
Anesthesiologist with a specialty in congenital heart conditions— the only one with that training in her country, according to her community— Helen was a mother of two children who are in Nicaragua.
“Beyond her profession, she was a loving mother of two children, who were the center of her world,” reads the description of a campaign on GoFundMe created to repatriate her remains.
"In memory of Dr. Helen Garay, a devoted physician and beloved mother, who tragically passed away on December 14, 2025, at the age of 32," the post adds.
A disastrous night at a Dollar Tree
According to information released by the Miami-Dade police, Helen entered the Dollar Tree store alone on the night of Saturday, December 13.
The surveillance cameras show that she did not make any purchases and that she accessed the employee area where the industrial freezer was located. The store closed at 10:00 p.m. and she never left.
On Sunday morning, an employee who arrived to open the establishment discovered the body. The store was temporarily closed while the agents inspected the scene and reviewed the footage.
No signs of struggle or violence were reported. There has also been no mention of any psychiatric history or episodes that would explain a mental health crisis.
Open investigation and family pain
The police have not issued any conclusions. It is being investigated whether the doctor voluntarily entered the freezer and if a fatal oversight led to her death.
The possibility of an accident remains the main line of inquiry, in the absence of evidence pointing to anything else.
Meanwhile, her family is trying to raise the funds to bring her body back to Nicaragua. According to the GoFundMe platform, less than $2,000 was needed to reach the goal.
"The family’s greatest wish is to bring her back to Nicaragua so she can receive a proper funeral and final rest, surrounded by her loved ones," the petition states
A case that raises more questions than answers
Helen Garay died alone in a foreign country, under circumstances that were as tragic as they were difficult to comprehend.
The nudity of her body has been the most puzzling element of the case, but also the key to understanding what might have happened.
Was she a victim of disorientation caused by the cold? Was there negligence in accessing a restricted area? Why did no one look for her when she didn’t return that night?
Until the forensic report is released and the investigation is closed, the case of the Nicaraguan doctor will remain shrouded in mystery.
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