FUENGIROLA, SPAIN – The international bodybuilding community is in mourning after Colombian professional bodybuilder Zunilda Hoyos Méndez, 43, was found dead in what Spanish authorities are describing as a “horrifying” murder-suicide. The grim discovery was made on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in a rented apartment in the coastal town of Fuengirola.
Méndez, a rising star in the professional circuit, was found with fatal injuries consistent with a hammer attack. Also found dead at the scene was her husband, Jarrod Gelling, who authorities believe took his own life with a knife after murdering Méndez.
Concerns were raised after friends and family had not heard from Méndez for several days. Her niece, Yuleydis, told Spanish media that daily contact with her aunt was normal, and the silence was highly unusual. “For my aunt, it was her last trip with him, a farewell,” Yuleydis said, revealing that Méndez had intended to divorce her husband due to his increasingly aggressive behavior.
The couple, who resided in Dubai, had traveled to Spain ahead of a fitness competition in Portugal where Méndez was scheduled to compete. Her coach, Branden Ray, expressed his devastation on social media. “We were so close to the end, but the closest person to you ended it too soon,” he wrote. “Domestic violence should never be taken lightly, because it can leave many with a heavy heart.”
Members of Méndez’s gym in Fuengirola also grew worried when she failed to show up for her training sessions in the days leading up to the discovery.
Tributes have poured in from the bodybuilding world, remembering Méndez for her dedication, vibrant personality, and promising career. Known for her impressive physique and dedication to the sport, she had garnered a significant following and was considered a strong contender in upcoming competitions.
Spanish National Police are continuing their investigation into the tragic events. The preliminary findings suggest a clear case of murder-suicide, a final, violent chapter to what family members described as a tumultuous and abusive relationship. The incident has sent shockwaves through the close-knit bodybuilding community, highlighting the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
