Emily Ceco, a former participant in 'Love Is Blind,' has shaken audiences with her harrowing account of domestic violence involving her husband, Santiago Martínez.
The couple, who met on the reality show, had recently married in a civil ceremony and were in the midst of planning their religious wedding, scheduled for February 22 in Argentina. However, the preparations came to an abrupt halt after Santiago physically assaulted Emily in the early hours of February 8.
A fit of jealousy
In an interview withstreaming channel Bondi Live, Emily described the incident. That evening, she had gone out with her mother and sisters to celebrate her bachelorette party. Upon returning home after attending a play and having dinner, she approached Santiago for a hug—only to be met with accusations.
He claimed to have seen TikTok videos of her with other men. As Emily attempted to explain, Santiago escalated the situation, hurling insults at her. She decided to leave, but he physically restrained her, preventing her from escaping.
"He punched me in the head, called me a 'whore,' hit me again, and pushed me onto the bed. He's very strong. He started choking me with my own arms. I begged him, 'Please, stop, you're hurting me,' and he mocked me, saying, 'Two hours ago you weren't crying, cry now,'" Emily tearfully recalled.
Desperate, she fought back, kicking him in the groin and biting his hand when he tried to silence her screams. But her resistance only enraged him further. The assault left visible injuries, including a bruised eye, which was still noticeable during the interview. Despite the severity of her wounds, Santiago dismissed them, saying, "Relax, love. In two days it'll be gone."
Fearing further violence, Emily pretended everything was fine for the rest of the day. On February 9 she seized an opportunity to escape, taking only her keys and the clothes on her back to seek refuge at her sister's house.
Once he realized she had left, Santiago bombarded Emily with WhatsApp messages. Initially he accused her of running off with another man. Then his tone shifted as he tried to manipulate her into covering up the reason for their wedding's cancellation.
"This is what I'm telling the guests: 'Unfortunately, the venue we had booked double-booked the date with a birthday event at noon, so we have to postpone the wedding," one of Santiago's messages read.
As the messages continued, he pleaded for discretion, suggesting they present a united front in announcing their separation. He later tried to justify his actions, claiming they stemmed from childhood trauma.
The consequences
Determined to seek justice, Emily filed a domestic violence complaint against Santiago on February 11. The case is being handled by the Gender and Family Violence Division at the Women's Police Station in General Rodríguez, with prosecutor Florencia Toscano overseeing the investigation.
News of the incident quickly spread online, sparking outrage. As a result of the public backlash, Santiago was fired from River Play Digital, the streaming channel of River Plate football club, where he had been working. The platform condemned his actions, issuing a statement:
"We unequivocally denounce the actions of Santiago Martínez. As a result, we have immediately terminated his involvement in 'Qué Distintos Somos.' Our platform has zero tolerance for any form of violence. We stand with the victim and strongly condemn these acts."
To ensure Emily's safety, the court has granted her emergency protective measures, including a panic button. Authorities continue to investigate, gathering evidence to determine the legal consequences Santiago will face for his actions.
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