‘She-Hulk’ Bodybuilder Dies in Brutal Attack: Husband Is Primary Suspect
Investigators believe she was fatally attacked with a hammer
Venice Beach, CA - March 14:The weight is over for people wanting to work out at the iconic Muscle Beach in Venice, CA Monday March 14, 2022. Muscle beach re-opened Monday after being refurbished. The iconic weight-lifting and work-out area has been shut down for more than three years. Anyone can work out at the gym for $10.00, day pass, or $200.00 for an annual pass. It will be open every day except for rain days and holidays. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
Zunilda Hoyos Méndez, a professional bodybuilder known as ‘La Mujer Hulk’ (She-Hulk), has died at the age of 43 under deeply tragic circumstances.
According to police reports, Hoyos was allegedly killed by her husband, Jarrod Gelling, 46, a Colombian-American national, in their apartment in the Higueron West residential complex in Fuengirola, Spain. Investigators believe she was fatally attacked with a hammer. After the incident, the suspect is reported to have taken his own life.
Both bodies were found inside the apartment. Authorities say the condition of Gelling’s body appears consistent with suicide. As a result, the case is being investigated as a possible instance of gender-based violence.
The alarm was first raised by a fellow gym member who reported not having seen or heard from Hoyos since June 14. Local officials confirmed there were no previous formal complaints against the man.
However, people close to Zunilda have shared that she had been planning to divorce her husband due to his aggressive behavior. Her nieces also confirmed to La Verdad newspaper that she had been a victim of domestic abuse.
What Happens Now?
If it’s confirmed that Zunilda Hoyos Méndez was killed by her husband, the case would become the fifth confirmed femicide in Andalusia so far in 2025. Unfortunately, this tragedy also reflects a broader, disturbing pattern of gender-based violence. Not only in Spain but around the world—including high-profile cases like that of influencer Valeria Márquez, whose murder was recorded live.
One of the ‘She Hulk’ nieces spoke with the press, saying: “For my aunt, this trip was meant to be her last with him—a goodbye. She had already decided to divorce him because of his violent behavior. They had separated once before for quite a while, then got back together and tried to work things out… but the abuse continued.”
Branden Rey, her personal trainer, also shared a heartfelt message on social media after the news broke: “You could have been among the top 10 in the world this year.”
