Man’s body was in Planet Fitness tanning bed for days, IN cops say. Arrest made

A woman has been arrested and charged in the death of a man whose body was found in the tanning bed of a Planet Fitness, Indiana authorities say.

The Indianapolis Metro Police Department said 41-year-old Heather Bradford gave drugs to Derek Sink, who had died from an overdose when he was discovered in the workout center Nov. 11, 2024.

His body, according to WTHR, was in the Planet Fitness tanning bed for three days before it was found. His family reported him missing before his discovery.

Bradford was arrested May 30 and charged with one count of dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, police said.

Battling drug addiction, Sink signed up for a Planet Fitness membership with the hope working out would keep him sober, according to a probable cause statement obtained by the Indianapolis Star.

As he was signing up, he was joined by Bradford, his girlfriend who is accused of giving him drugs inside the gym, the Star reported.

Sink, 39, remained in the Planet Fitness for days, not answering any text messages from his girlfriend.

“I’m not mad at you babe, I’m just not understanding,” Bradford is accused of texting Sink, WTHR reported. “As much as I want you to be OK, I kinda am hoping you overdosed and are in a hospital somewhere and will surface in a day or 2.”

Sink’s ankle monitor alerted authorities of his location Nov. 9 and 10, but it wasn’t until Nov. 11 when they found his body, the Star reported. The Marion County Coroner’s Office determined his cause of a death was a fentanyl overdose.

Police said the months-long investigation led to Bradford’s arrest at a gas station in Mooresville.

In an interview with People after her son’s death, Karen Wetzel described Sink as “the kindest person” with “the softest heart.” She said Sink had a 20-year-old son and was working “to turn his life around.”

“Derek had the biggest heart ever,” his aunt, Kimberly Smith, told WTHR. “Did he have issues with the law? Yes. Most of it involved around drugs. He wanted things in life. He had goals in life, but, you know, he just had that demon, and she fed that demon.”

Planet Fitness said in a statement to McClatchy News in November that it would be in contact with the gym’s franchisee to ensure its rules and regulations were being followed at the gym.

“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,” a Planet Fitness spokesperson said. “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.”

This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 11:53 AM with the headline "Man’s body was in Planet Fitness tanning bed for days, IN cops say. Arrest made."