The Twisted True Story Behind Netflix's Griselda, What Happened to Griselda Blanco?
by Priyanka P
Updated Jan 27, 2024
The Twisted True Story Behind Netflix's Griselda
Netflix's "Griselda" is inspired by the real-life story of Griselda Blanco, a notorious Colombian drug lord known as the "Cocaine Godmother." Born in 1943, Blanco grew up in Medellín, exposed to a criminal lifestyle early on. In the 1970s-2000s, she played a key role in the cocaine trade, particularly in Miami.
The Netflix series portrays her rise to power, involvement in violent drug wars, and eventual arrest in 1985. Blanco served time in prison, facing federal charges, and later state charges for three murders. After release in 2004, she was assassinated in Medellín in 2012. The show attempts to capture the twisted reality of Blanco's life, showcasing the dark and violent aspects of her criminal empire.
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Who Was Griselda Blanco?
Griselda Blanco, born in Colombia in 1943, was a notorious figure known as the "Cocaine Godmother." Growing up in Medellín, she was exposed to a criminal lifestyle early on. Blanco became a key player in the cocaine trade during the 1970s-2000s, operating in Miami and other major cities. She gained notoriety for her ruthless tactics in drug wars, earning the nickname "Black Widow."
Blanco's criminal empire involved violence, leading to her arrest in 1985 on federal drug charges. After serving time in prison, she faced additional state charges for three murders. Released in 2004 due to health issues, Blanco lived a quieter life in Colombia until her assassination in 2012. Her life story, marked by crime and violence, is depicted in the Netflix series "Griselda."
Full Name
Griselda Blanco Restrepo
Born
February 14, 1943, Cartagena, Bolivar, Colombia
Died
September 3, 2012, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Nicknames
Cocaine Godmother, Black Widow, The Godmother
Spouses
Carlos Trujillo, Alberto Bravo, Darío Sepúlveda
Children
4 sons
Convictions
Federal: Conspiracy to manufacture, import, and distribute cocaine. Florida: Second-degree murder (3 counts).
Criminal Penalties
Federal: 15 years imprisonment. Florida: 20 years imprisonment.
What Happened to Griselda Blanco?
Griselda Blanco, known as the "Cocaine Godmother," met a violent end. After being a key player in the cocaine trade, orchestrating drug wars, and serving time in prison, Blanco was released in 2004 due to health issues. She lived a quieter life in Colombia until her assassination on September 3, 2012. Blanco, aged 69, was shot twice by a motorcycle-riding assassin outside a butcher shop in Medellín.
The method mirrored the same assassination style she was credited with introducing during her drug reign in Miami. Blanco's death marked the conclusion of a life marked by crime, violence, and infamy. Her legacy continues through depictions in media, including the Netflix series "Griselda."
Griselda Blanco Early Life
Griselda Blanco, born on February 14, 1943, in Cartagena, Colombia, had a tumultuous early life. Raised in Medellín, she was exposed to a criminal environment from a young age. At just 11, Blanco allegedly kidnapped, attempted to ransom, and ultimately shot a child from an affluent neighborhood.
By 13, she had become a pickpocket, and at 19, she ran away from home to escape her mother's boyfriend's abuse. Blanco resorted to stealing in Medellín, possibly engaging in prostitution for financial support. Her early life experiences shaped her into a street-smart and resilient individual, setting the stage for her later involvement in the drug trade and criminal activities in the United States, particularly during the 1970s-2000s.
Griselda Blanco Career
Griselda Blanco's career was marked by her prominent role in the cocaine trade during the 1970s-2000s. Originally from Colombia, she illegally immigrated to the United States in 1964, settling in Queens, New York. Blanco quickly established a thriving drug operation, leading to a federal indictment in 1975. Fleeing to Colombia, she returned to the U.S. in the late 1970s and shifted her drug operations to Miami.
Blanco played a key part in the violent conflicts known as the Miami Drug War or Cocaine Cowboy Wars during the 1980s. Her distribution network spanned the U.S., earning millions monthly. Arrested in 1985 on federal drug charges, Blanco served time in prison and faced additional state charges for murders. After release in 2004, she lived quietly in Colombia until her assassination in 2012.
Griselda Blanco Personal Life
Griselda Blanco led a tumultuous personal life marked by crime, violence, and complex relationships. Married three times, her first husband, Carlos Trujillo, fathered three sons with her in Medellín. Blanco's youngest son, Michael Corleone Blanco, born with her third husband, Darío Sepúlveda, faced a challenging childhood due to family tragedies and Blanco's incarceration.
She orchestrated the assassination of Sepúlveda after a custody dispute. Despite her criminal activities, Blanco's son Michael stated that she became a born-again Christian later in life. After serving time in U.S. prisons, Blanco was released in 2004 and deported to Medellín, where she maintained a low profile until her assassination in 2012 at the age of 69. Blanco's life story remains notorious for her involvement in the drug trade and her ruthless tactics.
The Twisted True Story Behind Netflix's Griselda - FAQs
Griselda Blanco, also known as the "Cocaine Godmother" or "Black Widow," was a notorious Colombian drug lord heavily involved in the cocaine trade and Miami's underworld during the late 20th century.
Griselda Blanco was assassinated on September 3, 2012, in Medellín, Colombia, at the age of 69. An unknown assailant on a motorcycle shot her twice, mirroring the assassination style she was known for during her criminal reign.
Born in Cartagena, Colombia, Blanco had a troubled early life marked by criminal exposure. Allegedly kidnapping and shooting a child at 11, she became a pickpocket and ran away at 19 to escape abuse, possibly turning to prostitution for survival.
Griselda Blanco played a significant role in the cocaine trade, illegally immigrating to the U.S. in 1964. She set up a lucrative drug operation, faced legal troubles, and orchestrated drug-related violence during the Miami Drug War in the 1980s.
Blanco had three husbands and orchestrated the assassination of her third husband after a custody dispute. Her son, Michael Corleone Blanco, faced family tragedies, and despite criminal activities, Blanco became a born-again Christian later in life.