Luis Espinoza, a 30-year-old medical student at the University of Pittsburgh, was found dead on Friday, January 24, just days after he was reported missing. Espinoza’s disappearance and subsequent death have left his family, friends, and the university community in shock and mourning.
The Pittsburgh Police Department confirmed that Espinoza’s body was discovered near South Side Park on the morning of January 24. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the cause and manner of his death, with further details yet to be disclosed.
Espinoza was last seen alive in the vicinity of South Side Park off Mission Street at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 20. His last known activity, walking his Dobermann, was captured on surveillance footage in the area.
Concerns about Espinoza’s well-being first arose on Saturday, January 18, when his family was unable to contact him. Jacqueline Espinoza, Luis’s sister, revealed that their parents last spoke with him that day.
After failing to reach him, his father requested a wellness check at Luis’s apartment. Police discovered the apartment door open, and a troubling sequence of events began to unfold.
Surveillance footage showed Espinoza walking his dog on Monday morning. Approximately 30 to 45 minutes later, the dog was seen running loose, seemingly distressed.
“To me, it was like the dog was trying to get help,” Jacqueline shared in an interview. Animal control later retrieved the dog, which was found wandering on a nearby street.
Espinoza’s family, desperate for answers, brought the dog back to South Side Park on Thursday, January 23. The dog exhibited unusual behavior, crying and persistently pulling toward a particular area in the park, further fueling their fears about Luis’s safety.
