Missing man Derek Sink found dead in tanning bed at Planet Fitness in Indianapolis, police say

INDIANAPOLIS — A 39-year-old Indiana man was found dead in a tanning bed at a planet gym in south Indianapolis this week.

The man went to the gym on Friday but was found on Monday, according to police. WTHR reported.

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“Nobody thinks you’re going to go to the gym on a Monday morning and potentially be in the same building as a dead body,” said Planet Fitness member Elizabeth Len.

Len said his Monday morning practice started out like any other day until he noticed a foul odor.

“I was smelling it, trying not to look crazy, but something smells really awful in here,” Len said.

The smell was coming from one of the tanning bedrooms where 39-year-old Derek Sink was found dead.

“The first thing that came to my mind was the lack of attention from the staff at Planet Fitness, which was quite disappointing because maybe it could have been avoided,” Len said.

Sink’s family said Sink went into the gym tanning bed on Friday but was not found until Monday morning. They said that he was struggling with drugs and that there was a needle next to him in the room.

His aunt said they reported him missing Friday and he wore an ankle monitor, which helped police find him.

For three days, Sink was thought to be missing and the gym remained open.

“I guess the tanning salon has a door, but still, why aren’t we concerned about the tanning salon potentially being closed for three days?” Len said.

The cause of Lavabo’s death has not yet been determined.

In a statement Tuesday, a Planet Fitness spokesperson said they are working closely with local franchisees to ensure they maintain these brand protocols.