Female Bodybuilding Star Brutally Murdered in Hammer Attack

A shocking crime has rocked Spain’s glamorous Costa del Sol. Zunilda Hoyos Mendez, the internationally known bodybuilding champion famed online as the “Colombian She-Hulk,” was found bludgeoned to death with a hammer in her upscale Fuengirola apartment.

Her husband, fellow bodybuilder Jarrod Gelling, was discovered dead by his own hand, in what authorities are describing as a chilling murder-suicide.

A Violent End in a Luxury Hideaway

Police responding to a worried call from a friend made the grisly discovery around 2 p.m. Wednesday at the couple’s exclusive Higueron West estate, an address favored by celebrities and athletes.

Investigators say Hoyos Mendez, 43, suffered “obvious signs of violence,” while 46-year-old Gelling was found with fatal stab wounds in the bathroom, a bloodied knife nearby.

Detectives believe Gelling killed his wife in a fit of rage before turning the blade on himself. Relatives allege the couple’s marriage had long been troubled.

A Final Goodbye Turns Deadly

Hoyos Mendez, who had just arrived from Dubai—where she and her husband spent much of their time—was planning to leave Gelling for good, her family told local media.

“For my aunt, it was the last trip, a goodbye,” said her niece, Yuleydis, in a heartbreaking interview. “She was going to help him recover from a knee operation before heading to Portugal for a competition, then back to Colombia. She had decided to divorce him because of his aggression.”

Yuleydis described the relationship as volatile: “They had broken up before, but she tried to give it another chance. The mistreatment never stopped.”

Social Media Sensation—And Dark Secrets

Known for her sculpted physique and fearless attitude, Hoyos Mendez had more than 100,000 followers across OnlyFans and Fansly, where she called herself “the naughtiest fitness girl.” She was a rising star in bodybuilding, finishing second at the NPC Worldwide Latin American Championships in 2021 and training for a shot at the global top 10.

Her trainer, Branden Rey, posted a grief-stricken tribute: “We had 17 days until we were going to hit the stage and shock the world. I told you, you could be top 10 by the end of the year. I meant it. Rest in paradise, my friend.”

Fellow competitor Behnaz Azar was left devastated: “Amy—my kind, strong, fierce friend. The most powerful woman I knew, yet with the gentlest heart. We had dreams. Now all that’s left is silence and a wound so deep I know it will never fully heal.”

A Pattern of Violence in Spain’s Sunbelt

While police say the couple were not previously known for domestic incidents, Hoyos Mendez’s death is now the third suspected case of gender-based murder in Malaga this year—and the fifth in the region of Andalucia.

Domestic violence is drawing renewed scrutiny across Spain after several high-profile cases. Just weeks ago, another woman was strangled behind a gas station near Marbella; earlier this year, a mother of three was allegedly killed by her ex-partner in Benalmadena.

Coach Rey pleaded for action: “Domestic violence should never be taken lightly, because it can leave many with a heavy heart.”

A Star Silenced, Dreams Shattered

With her sudden, brutal death, the bodybuilding world has lost a legend in the making—and friends and fans across the globe are demanding answers. As Spanish authorities conduct autopsies and continue their investigation, tributes to the “Colombian She-Hulk” are pouring in, remembering her not just as a titan in the gym but as a source of inspiration and light.

“Until we meet again, in a world kinder than this one,” Azar wrote. “Rest in peace, my shining star.”