Body Discovered in Tanning Bed at Planet Fitness

INDIANAPOLIS — A disturbing discovery was made at a Planet Fitness gym on the south side of Indianapolis when police found a body in a tanning bed. The grim find was prompted by a lingering foul odor that caught the attention of gym-goers.

Alexis Coffman was at the gym on Monday morning when officers arrived. “There was a weird odor, but they kept spraying stuff and told us not to worry. Not too long after that, there was a coroner, and cops followed right behind them,” she recounted.

The victim, 39-year-old Derek Sink, had been reported missing by his family after he failed to return home on Friday night. He was under house arrest for drug-related issues and did not report back as required.

According to family members, Sink's body was discovered in the tanning bed where he had reportedly remained for three days without anyone checking on him. They indicated that a needle was also found nearby.

Derek's grandmother, Gail Dylon, and his brother Mikael Dylon shared their memories with reporters. Gail described how important it was for Derek to look good, while Mikael fondly remembered his brother’s playful nature: “We were joking when we were kids. He could get lost in a hall with a thousand mirrors. ‘Whose that looking guy?’”

The family had found Derek’s car parked outside the gym on Friday and returned multiple times over the weekend searching for him. They noticed the strange smell but felt dismissed when they inquired about checking the tanning room.

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

A representative from Planet Fitness expressed condolences but did not provide specific answers regarding why employees failed to check on Sink during those crucial days.

“We were deeply saddened by the passing of one of our members, and the franchise owner is working with local authorities in their investigation. At Planet Fitness, we have robust operational brand protocols in place; the safety and well-being of our members is our top priority,” stated McCall Gosselin, chief corporate affairs officer at Planet Fitness.

The family continues to seek answers regarding what happened: “This we can’t figure out. Why? Why didn’t someone check the room?” Gail questioned.

Derek Sink leaves behind a 20-year-old son. His funeral is expected to take place next week.