Film & TV2 min(s) read
A reality television romance ended in terror after a Love Is Blind Argentina contestant attempted to murder his show bride. Santiago Martínez was sentenced to 15 years in prison following a trial where he was found guilty of attempted murder, repeated assault, and unlawful detention of his former wife, Emily Ceco.
The pair originally met and married during their time on the Netflix dating series. They remained together for roughly a year before Ceco filed a formal report for gender-based violence. During the trial, evidence revealed that Martínez attempted to suffocate Ceco. He contested the attempted murder charge in court, claiming the incident was "just a family fight."
Ceco has publicly detailed the systematic abuse she experienced throughout their relationship, explaining that the violence began during the production of Love Is Blind.
The survivor explained that the mistreatment spanned beyond physical attacks, encompassing severe emotional and psychological harm. "He told me I was fat, that I wasn’t good enough," Emily said on a national TV show. "He said I was stupid, that I was ugly. All the insults you could imagine."
Living in constant fear, Ceco shared that she felt terrified of Martínez and that his gaze paralyzed her. The overwhelming shame she felt prevented her from confiding in family and friends at the time. She now recognizes that the shame belonged to the perpetrator, prompting her to speak out to assist other women in similar circumstances.
When asked about the exact instance she realized she had to flee and contact law enforcement, Ceco recounted the night of the attack. "When he was killing me. Choking me. He was covering my face with a pillow, and punching me. He wouldn’t let me out. I made the decision to run away, and file a complaint."
Immediately following the violent assault, Martínez ordered her to clean their home. Ceco refused due to her physical pain, leading him to ask if she intended to rebel against him. "At that moment, I realised, if I don’t leave this son of a b*tch will kill me," she said. Ceco understood that remaining in the home meant she would likely end up dead.
Justice was served when the court handed down the 15 year prison sentence. Reflecting on the final ruling, Ceco expressed relief: "I can’t believe it. I feel it’s over, I’m finally going to have peace. Justice has been done."
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