Current:Home > ContactMother of Man Found Dead in Tanning Bed at Planet Fitness Gym Details His Final Moments -GrowthSphere Strategies
Mother of Man Found Dead in Tanning Bed at Planet Fitness Gym Details His Final Moments
View
Date:2025-04-19 02:53:55
More has come to light about Derek Sink's death.
Three days after his body was found in a tanning bed at a Planet Fitness gym in Indianapolis, his mother shared more insight into the harrowing incident.
Karen Wetzel believes that her son's toxicology report will come back with fentanyl in his system, she told People in an interview published Nov. 13. She emphasized that despite Sink's history with drug addiction (a syringe was found in the room with him, according to his family), he was "a human being with value and worth."
She recalled the 39-year-old as "the kindest person" with "the softest heart," per the outlet.
Karen explained that Sink—who was charged with possession of a narcotic drug and possession of a controlled substance last year, according to Marion County Superior Court records, per NBC News—had gone to sign up for a gym membership on Nov. 8 while his girlfriend Heather and her daughter were in a TJMaxx nearby.
The pair went to find Sink—who was wearing an ankle monitor as part of his plea agreement, along with drug testing—but went home after being unable to locate him. They reported him missing on Nov. 10 and his probation officer found his body the day after when she went to his last known location.
Although it took days to locate Sink's body, a local woman who was visiting the facility revealed that she noticed a putrid smell near the tanning beds after entering the building.
"The tanning bed has a door, I believe," Elizabeth Len told WTHR in an interview published Nov. 12. "But still, why are we not concerned that the tanning bed has been closed for three days, potentially?"
After Sink's body was discovered, Planet Fitness expressed their condolences and emphasized the dedication to safety in their facilities.
"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, Planet Fitness' chief corporate affairs officer, said in a Nov. 12 statement to E! News. "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."
(E! News and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (586)
Related
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- 21 of the Most Charming Secrets About Notting Hill You Could Imagine
- Teen who walked six miles to 8th grade graduation gets college scholarship on the spot
- Untangling the Wildest Spice Girls Stories: Why Geri Halliwell Really Left, Mel B's Bombshells and More
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- These Are the Toughest Emissions to Cut, and a Big Chunk of the Climate Problem
- Politicians want cop crackdowns on drug dealers. Experts say tough tactics cost lives
- Kate Spade Memorial Day Sale: Get a $239 Crossbody Purse for $79, Free Tote Bags & More 75% Off Deals
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- 24-Hour Ulta Deal: 50% Off a Bio Ionic Iron That Curls or Straightens Hair in Less Than 10 Minutes
Ranking
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Defense arguments are set to open in a landmark climate case brought by Montana youth
- Hilary Swank Shares Motherhood Update One Month After Welcoming Twins
- New abortion laws changed their lives. 8 very personal stories
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- For the intersex community, 'Every Body' exists on a spectrum
- A year after Dobbs and the end of Roe v. Wade, there's chaos and confusion
- OceanGate co-founder voiced confidence in sub before learning of implosion: I'd be in that sub if given a chance
Recommendation
Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
American Climate Video: On a Normal-Seeming Morning, the Fire Suddenly at Their Doorstep
Two New Studies Add Fuel to the Debate Over Methane
'We're not doing that': A Black couple won't crowdfund to pay medical debt
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
Be a Part of Halle Bailey and Boyfriend DDG's World With This PDA Video
What Happened to Natalee Holloway: Breaking Down Every Twist in the Frustrating Case
Oil Pipelines or Climate Action? Trudeau Walks a Political Tightrope in Canada