Bodybuilding Community Mourns Amy Muscle After Star Was Found ‘Bludgeoned to Death’ At Spanish Rental
A Columbian bodybuilder known as ‘She Hulk’ was beaten to death with a hammer while holidaying in Spain, according to multiple reports.
Police discovered the bodies of Zunilda Hoyos Mendez, 43, otherwise known as Amy Muscle, and her husband, Jarrod Gelling, 46, at a rental home in Malaga on Thursday.
The pair had been staying in Spain for around a month following Gelling’s knee surgery.
Gelling, who had been married to Mendez for four years, was allegedly found in the bathroom with “apparent self-inflicted stab wounds”.
Mendez, who flew to Costa Del Sol from Dubai, where the couple were believed to have spent most of their time, had been missing since Saturday.
Detectives were alerted by Mendez’s gym companion, who raised the alarm saying he hadn’t seen her since June 14.
A police spokesperson in Malaga, said: “The National Police is investigating the death of a man and woman found lifeless at a property in Fuengirola.
“In the absence of official identification of the bodies, initial inquiries are pointing to them being those of a 43-year-old woman of Colombian origin and her 46-year-old partner of American origin.
“Officers went to the property on a residential estate about 1.45pm after a friend of the woman whose body was found reported her disappearance on Wednesday at the National Police Station in Torremolinos.
“Her body showed obvious signs of violence and that of the man’s signs indicating a suicide-type death, which is something an autopsy will have to confirm.”
Mendez’s relatives have since spoken to Spanish press, describing her musclebound husband as “aggressive”.
The rising star’s niece, Yuleydis, told Malaga-based newspaper Sur her aunt was planning on divorcing Gelling after he had recovered from the surgery before returning to Colombia via a bodybuilding competition in Portugal.
“For my aunt it was the last trip, a goodbye,” she said.
“She had taken the decision to split from her husband because of his aggressive behaviour.
“They had broken up already once and were apart for quite a while but then got back together again to try to resolve things, although the mistreatment continued.”
Tributes Paid To Amy Muscle
There has been an outpouring of grief for Mendez — who was widely known as Amy Muscle in the bodybuilding community — since the tragic news first broke.
She was fast becoming a titan in the female bodybuilding space, boasting a striking muscular physique and a true dedication to the art.
Her coach Branden Rey paid tribute to her in an emotional Instagram post. He wrote: “We had 17 days until we were going to hit the stage and shock the world my friend.
“I told you that you could possibly be top 10 in the world by the end of this year and I meant it.
“Rest in paradise Amy.”
Bodybuilder friend and coach Behnaz Azar also posted: “I don’t know where to begin.
“My heart is broken, my mind is clouded, and my soul is drowning in shock and sorrow.
“Amy – my kind, strong, fierce friend.
“The most powerful woman I knew in the world of bodybuilding, yet with the gentlest heart.”
SEE ALSO: From Ireland to the Emirates: Rob Lipsett’s Fuel Cakes Launch in the UAE
