Bodybuilder Was Planning to Divorce Her Husband. Now She's Dead After Hammer Attack, and He Died by Suicide

NEED TO KNOW

• Zunilda Hoyos Méndez, 43, was found dead at a property in Fuengirola on Thursday, June 19, according to local reports

• Méndez's husband, Jarrod Gelling, 46, was also found with suspected self-inflicted knife wounds

• "Domestic violence should never be taken lightly, because it can leave many with a heavy heart," Méndez's bodybuilding coach, Branden Ray, wrote on Instagram

A female bodybuilding champion has been found slain at her luxury home in Spain, with police suspecting that her husband died from self-inflicted wounds.

At around 1:45 p.m. local time on Thursday, June 19, police visited a home in the Higuerón West residential area of Fuengirola after a friend filed a missing person report saying they had not seen Zunilda Hoyos Méndez, who also went by Amy, in five days, Spanish news outlets Canaries 7 and SUR reported.

Police allegedly found the body of Méndez, 43, who was from Colombia, with injuries indicating she had been killed with a hammer, while her American husband, Jarrod Gelling, 46, had knife wounds consistent with suicide, according to reports.

"We were in contact with her daily, which is why it was so strange not to hear anything from her since Saturday," Méndez’s niece Yuleydis told SUR.

According to Yuleydis, her family’s concerns escalated because Méndez frequently described Gelling as aggressive and said she wanted a divorce.

The couple met four years before they were both found dead, having been brought together by their professional bodybuilding careers. They had no children and reportedly spent much of their time in Dubai.

Yuleydis said Méndez would inform the family of “every move she made,” per SUR. She said her aunt planned to help care for Gelling after his knee surgery before traveling to Portugal for a competition.

"For my aunt, it was her last trip with him, a farewell,” Yuleydis told the outlet. “She had decided to divorce him because of her husband's aggressive behavior."

In addition to her family, members of Méndez’s gym in Fuengirola grew concerned when she missed training and stopped responding to messages, SUR reported.

After news of her death, Méndez’s bodybuilding coach, Branden Ray, posted a tribute and a photo of her posing on his Instagram Stories.

“We had 17 days until we were going to hit the stage and shock the world, my friend,” Ray wrote. “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.”

Sharing a photo of Amy practicing her side pose for the stage, he added, “We were so close to the end, but the closest person to you ended it too soon. Domestic violence should never be taken lightly, because it can leave many with a heavy heart.”

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Fellow bodybuilding competitor Behnaz Azar shared several photos with Méndez on her Instagram Stories alongside a tribute.

“A eulogy for my beloved Amy,” Azar wrote. “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.

Fuengirola Local Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Friday, June 20.

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