An Elgin woman became “so angry” after finding nude pictures of her husband’s mistress on their home computer, she decided to tell “the whole world about it” by publicly posting the explicit images on Facebook, Cook County prosecutors said Monday.
Ramona Martinez-Ayala discovered the images when she was scrolling through her husband’s Facebook messages after he didn’t log out of his account on the couple’s computer on Aug. 20, Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said.
Martinez-Ayala, 35, went on to take pictures of the online conversations between her husband and the other woman, whom he had been in an on-and-off relationship with for the last 10 years, Murphy said.
Afterward, Martinez-Ayala privately messaged the 30-year-old woman, allegedly threatening to share the salacious images. Soon after, Martinez-Ayala carried out the threat by sharing the messages and three nude photos of the woman on her Facebook timeline, Murphy said. Martinez-Ayala, on her timeline, included the victim’s name and profile picture on the post, Murphy said.
The victim saw the post and at least one friend told her that her private images had been leaked, Murphy said. Facebook eventually removed Martinez-Ayala’s post because it violated the site’s rules.
Martinez-Ayala, who was taken into police custody Sunday, admitted to finding, saving and posting the pictures, Murphy said.
Martinez-Ayala, who works as a machine operator in an Elgin factory, was released on her own recognizance Monday for one felony count of nonconsensual dissemination of sexual images.
She was ordered not to have any contact with the victim while she awaits trial. Martinez-Ayala, who said she has an order of protection against her husband, also cannot have contact with him, unless there is a need such as a family matter.
Martinez-Ayala is expected back in court Dec. 14.
