Luis Espinoza was last seen walking his Dobermann near South Side Park in Pittsburgh on Monday, Jan. 20
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A University of Pittsburgh medical student has been found dead days after he was last seen walking his dog.
Luis Espinoza, 30, was found dead on Friday, Jan. 24, four days after he was originally reported missing, according to the Pittsburgh Police Department.
Although police did not share additional details in their statement, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE that Espinoza’s body was found that morning on the 100 Block of Sterling Street, which is located near South Side Park.
His cause and manner of death will be released by the medical examiner.
Espinoza was last seen in the area of South Side Park off of Mission Street around 10:30 a.m. local time on Monday, Jan. 20, police said in a previous update.
Jacqueline, Espinoza’s sister, said their parents last spoke to her brother days earlier on Saturday, Jan. 18, but later grew concerned when they could not reach him, according to ABC affiliate WTAE.
Their father asked police to perform a wellness check at his son’s apartment, and police discovered his front door was open when they arrived.
Espinoza was last seen on camera at South Side Park on Monday, where he was walking his Dobermann. Jacqueline said that the dog could be seen “running out by himself” about 30 to 45 minutes after her brother’s last appearance in the footage.
“To me, it was like the dog was trying to get help,” Jacqueline said.
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Animal control eventually picked up the dog, which was found on a nearby street, according to WTAE.
Family members brought the dog back to the park on Thursday, Jan. 23, and saw more interesting behavior. “He just kept crying, and he kept pulling over there, toward that way. He was crying and pulling,” Jacqueline said.
Espinoza’s cards, cash and car keys were found at his home, according to WTAE. The university also informed the family that Luis had not been in class this week.
“At the end of the day, we have one goal, and it’s to find my brother,” Jaqueline told the station. “So we’re trying to cover our emotions and just be strong and try to find him.”
