A Colombian bodybuilder, popularly known as “She Hulk,” was tragically killed with a hammer during a vacation in Spain. Her husband was also found dead, with what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds, according to local authorities and media reports. The couple, Zunilda Hoyos Mendez, 43, and Jarrod Gelling, 46, were discovered deceased in their rented Malaga residence, where they had been living for approximately a month following Gelling’s knee surgery.
Mendez, who also went by the name Amy, had reportedly informed family members that Gelling had been exhibiting aggressive behavior towards her over the past year. The couple had planned to separate after their vacation, which was supposed to conclude with a bodybuilding competition in Portugal in a few weeks, according to relatives.
Mendez’s life was tragically cut short on Thursday in Malaga, Spain. Her family revealed to the Spanish newspaper Sur that she had been suffering from abuse and was seeking a divorce. Mendez’s death was the result of multiple hammer blows, while Gelling was found in the bathroom with what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds, according to local Spanish media reports.
The couple’s bodies, covered in blood, were discovered in their home around 2 p.m. on Thursday. The Spanish National Police stated that Mendez’s body bore clear signs of violence, while Gelling’s death seemed to be a suicide, a fact that would need to be confirmed by an autopsy.
Mendez’s family had not heard from her since the previous Saturday. She and Gelling, who reportedly held both Colombian and American citizenship, had traveled to southern Spain from Dubai, where they had resided for most of the past year. Mendez’s niece, Yuleydis, told Sur that her aunt had planned to assist Gelling with his post-surgery recovery before competing in Portugal and then returning to Colombia to finalize their divorce.
Mendez, who had affectionately dubbed herself the “She Hulk,” had a significant online following. In addition to her bodybuilding career, she had amassed over 100,000 followers on OnlyFans, according to local reports. Her coach, Brandon Rey, expressed his grief on Instagram, stating that they had planned to “hit the stage and shock the world” in just 17 days. He also emphasized the seriousness of domestic violence in another post. The investigation into the tragic incident is still ongoing.