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SALT LAKE CITY – An alleged case of domestic violence that lasted for weeks lands a Salt Lake City man in jail for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. Investigators said his victim was attacked and threatened many times for several weeks.
Booking documents said police were called to the home of Ramone Martinez on Tuesday after getting calls about a woman who appeared to be held against her will. The victim was reportedly able to text a friend, begging for help and saying she was scared for her life.
Salt Lake City Detective Michael Ruff said, “When they did make contact, this male (Martinez) opened the door and our officers could see that he had his hand on a gun inside of a hooded sweatshirt.”
Ruff said officers told Martinez to take his hands off the weapon and put his arms in the air. Martinez was taken into custody without incident.
However, once they found the victim inside the home, they reportedly saw she had heavy bruising around her eyes. She also claimed her ribs hurt and she had trouble breathing. Jail records state the victim had been held against her will for several weeks and wasn’t allowed to leave the home unless Martinez came with her. The victim reportedly told officers she had been beaten six times while she was with Martinez, which included being choked to the point of losing consciousness more than once.
Ruff said officers weren’t certain, at first, how Martinez knew the victim.
“Whether they’re living together or whatever that relationship is, this does fall under domestic violence, and it’s, unfortunately, something we do see,” Ruff said.
Documents also say Martinez carved the number 6 into the victim’s left hand, telling her she had six months to “love him” or he would kill her. Police believe Martinez threatened to kill her with a gun and by holding a knife to her throat.
“It sounds like there were a lot of threats made over the course of this time period against her,” according to Ruff.
Martinez also reportedly threatened to kill the victim’s brother in Mexico, and sexually assault her mother.
Martinez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of assault and five counts of aggravated assault. Ruff said the arrest wouldn’t have happened if someone hadn’t reached out for a friend who needed help.
“If you have somebody that you’re concerned about and you have somebody that’s telling you that they’re in trouble, or if they’re just aren’t making a lot of sense and you think something is off, please let us know so we can try to reach out to them and make sure that everything is OK,” he said.