A relationship that began on Netflix's Love Is Blind Argentina has ended with a 15-year prison sentence, after Santiago Martínez was convicted of attempted murder, repeated assault, and unlawful detention against his former wife, Emily Ceco.
A marriage that started on screen
Martínez and Ceco met and married during their time on the dating series, staying together for around a year before Ceco filed a formal report for gender-based violence. In court, Martínez denied the attempted murder charge, describing the incident as a family dispute rather than an attack.
Abuse that started early, and grew worse
Ceco has since spoken publicly about the relationship, saying the mistreatment began not long after filming and extended well beyond physical violence into sustained emotional abuse. She described being repeatedly insulted and demeaned, and said Martínez's presence alone left her feeling frightened and unable to speak up.
For a long time, she said, shame kept her from telling anyone what was happening. She's since come to see that the shame was never hers to carry, which is part of why she's chosen to share her story publicly.
The night she decided to leave
Ceco has described the specific night that pushed her to finally act. She says Martínez physically attacked her, restraining her and covering her face, and that in the aftermath, when she refused an instruction from him because of the pain she was in, he responded by asking if she was rebelling against him.
That question is what made the danger clear to her. As she put it:
"If I don't leave, this son of a b*tch will kill me."
She left that night and went to the police.
A 15-year sentence, and some peace
The court ultimately sided with Ceco, handing Martínez a 15-year sentence. She described the relief of finally having the case resolved, saying she now feels able to move forward.
