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🌱 Patch AM: Woman Found Naked, Dead Inside FL Dollar Tree Freezer: Reports

Also, don't miss intriga Vol 35 ft Santelises and friends(Grand finale 2025) on the Miami Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 17th Patch AM
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Good morning Miami! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Woman found dead in Little Havana Dollar Tree freezer, no foul play
  • How a 99-year-old Miami trailblazer reshaped Coconut Grove’s Black community
  • How this free shuttle could change your commute to downtown Miami

Also on today's calendar: Silent Night at Christmas Wonderland and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Miamifor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Miami? Post it to Miami photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Miamifor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny and comfortable, with a high of 78 and low of 71 degrees.
  • Thursday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 81, low: 70.
  • Friday: Partly sunny and humid, with a high of 82 and low of 70 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Woman Found Naked, Dead Inside FL Dollar Tree Freezer: Reports (patch.com) — Miami residents are reacting to the shocking discovery of a 32-year-old Nicaraguan doctor found dead and naked inside a walk-in freezer at a Dollar Tree in Little Havana. Police say she entered the store Saturday night and stayed in the back freezer, with no foul play suspected, while a fundraiser is helping return her body to Nicaragua and support funeral costs.
   

2. ‘I'm thankful:' Black Miami pioneer reflects on 99 years of life (miamiherald.com) — A trailblazing Black Miami nurse and community advocate is celebrating her 99th birthday in Coconut Grove, where she’s spent decades fighting for affordable housing, health care, and preserving the neighborhood’s Bahamian heritage. From breaking barriers at Jackson Memorial Hospital to founding key Miami-Dade organizations, Thelma Gibson reflects on growing up under segregation and the changes reshaping her beloved Grove as friends and neighbors honor her legacy this week.
   

3. What is RideKel? See the new free ridesharing service helping residents across North Miami Beach (cbsnews.com) — A new free RideKel shuttle is now helping North Miami Beach riders connect to major transit hubs, including routes into downtown Miami, with more than 300 trips logged in its first two months. Funded by Miami-Dade’s transportation trust, the all-electric service shortens commutes for students and residents, boosts overall transit use, and is slated to expand with more vehicles and new South Florida cities.
   

4. At least 20 arrested in Miami-Dade murder-for-hire, cocaine trafficking investigation, authorities say (cbsnews.com) — A major multi-agency operation in Miami and Miami-Dade County has led to at least 20 arrests, dismantling an alleged cocaine trafficking ring and disrupting a murder-for-hire plot, according to police. Officers say the early-morning raids, conducted across neighborhoods including Little Havana, Flagami and Coral Way, also saved one person’s life and that more suspects are still being sought.
   

5. Eliott Rodriguez's career defined by firsthand coverage of Latin America's historic moments (cbsnews.com) — Miami viewers are saying goodbye to longtime CBS News Miami anchor Eliott Rodriguez, whose career has been shaped by covering Latin America and the city’s Cuban exile community. From the Elian Gonzalez saga in Little Havana to Fidel Castro’s death and Calle Ocho reactions, his reporting connected historic regional moments directly to South Florida audiences.
   

📸 Around Miami

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Have 2026 resolutions? Here is how to make them stick —Lourdes Mederos Read on Patch
  • Guy Harvey Foundation and Florida Power & Light Company Celebrate Partnership Milestone —South Florida Updates Read on Patch
  • 5 Can’t Miss Moments at the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival 2026 —Merilee Kern Read on Patch
  • Lost Dog – Please Help Us Find Him!
    Hello neighbors, My friend’s dog went missing near [11474 SW 181st St Miami , Florida 33157 this Monday, December 15]. We are very worried and… (Nextdoor West Perrine Estates)
  • Hi, I wanted to see if anyone has seen or found my dog breed is husky male who walked out the front door and now is missing.
    He is friendly & loving. Last known wherabouts was in front of Walgreens on SW 15th Rd & SW 2nd Ct. Please notify me if you come cross him so I can… (Nextdoor Miami Roads)
  • The Collection posted a job opening for Porter in Miami. Apply here.
  • Traveling with Tasha posted a job opening for Remote Booking Agent in Miami. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Miami here.

Ok Miami! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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