A 41-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with distributing a controlled substance that led to the overdose death of Derek Sink, a 39-year-old man found in a tanning bed at a Planet Fitness gym in Indianapolis, Indiana. Authorities have determined that Sink’s death was a result of a drug overdose. Police in Indianapolis have arrested Heather Bradford, who is facing multiple charges related to the incident.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) responded to the Planet Fitness gym just before 8:30 a.m. on November 11 after receiving a report that a body had been found inside the gym. The Marion County Coroner’s Office identified Derek Sink as the deceased and confirmed the cause of death was a drug overdose. Sink’s family last had contact with him on November 8 and reported him missing on November 10. The case has been taken over by the IMPD Overdose Death Task Force (ODTF), which used various investigative methods to identify Heather Bradford as a suspect in Sink’s death.
Bradford was located at a gas station in Mooresville, Indiana, the following day, where she was taken into custody by ODTF investigators, Indiana State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). IMPD Chief Chris Bailey spoke about the importance of these investigations in combating the ongoing overdose epidemic, highlighting the extensive work and cross-agency coordination involved. He emphasized that each arrest represents months of effort and a deep commitment to justice for families who have lost loved ones.
Planet Fitness released a statement following the discovery of Sink’s body at one of its gyms. McCall Gosselin, the chief corporate affairs officer at Planet Fitness, stated that the company has robust operational protocols in place to ensure the safety and well-being of its members. She expressed that the company is working closely with the franchise owner to uphold these protocols and that the franchise owner is cooperating with local authorities in the investigation. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of drug overdoses and the need for continued efforts to address this public health issue.