Man found dead in tanning bed at Indianapolis Planet Fitness; family wants stricter policies

An Indiana man has been found dead inside a tanning bed at a Planet Fitness. 

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department got a report that a body had been found in a tanning bed at a Planet Fitness in the city's south side at around 8:30 a.m. Monday, reported the IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office identified the 39-year-old man as Derek Sink to USA TODAY.

Police told IndyStar that Sink's body was found the day after his family reported him missing on Sunday. Officers also said that Sink's family had last heard from him on Friday.

“We were deeply saddened by the passing of one of our members, and the franchise owner is working with the local authorities in their investigation," McCall Gosselin, chief corporate affairs officer at Planet Fitness, said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Family members share Sink's struggles

WTHR-TV reported that Sink's family told the outlet that Sink struggled with drugs and that a needle was found in the room with him.

USA TODAY was asking police whether they could confirm that information.

The police department told USA TODAY that the investigation is ongoing. 

The coroner’s office said that the cause or manner of death was not available for release.  

Derek Sink’s remembered as a ‘loving person’ 

Sink's family also told WTHR that he was “a loving person.” 

They also told the news outlet that they hope there will be stricter policies put in place to prevent a death like Sink's from happening again. 

Planet Fitness said it was working with its franchisee staff in Indianapolis regarding the death.

"At Planet Fitness, we have robust operational brand protocols in place, as the safety and well-being of our members is our top priority," Gosselin said. "We are working closely with our local franchisee to ensure they are upholding those brand protocols.”

Contributing: Noe Padilla, IndyStar.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, food recalls, health, lottery, and public policy stories. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.