She committed crimes and served time…but in the end, who sent Griselda Blanco to prison?
Series like Narcos have brought biopics about the biggest drug traffickers back into fashion. In addition to Pablo Escobar, in the 1970s and 1980s there was another notorious figure in the field of crime: Griselda Blanco.
The series Griselda joined the ranks of Narcos and Mexico, starring actress Sofia Vergara. The six episodes on Netflix lift the veil on the life of the one we called the “godmother” – among many other names. From her flight from Medellin to her meteoric rise in Miami, her story, although fictionalized, traces the path of a baroness who will have made more than one person tremble.
And in her journey, the godmother was unable to avoid prison. But who really sent her there?
Who sent Griselda Blanco to prison?
It was Griselda Blanco’s renowned hitman, Jorge Ayala, who instigated incriminating testimony, leading to the Baroness’s most significant conviction.
Griselda Blanco was first arrested in 1985, and charged with conspiring to manufacture, import and distribute cocaine. Her case was brought before the New York courts where she was found guilty, receiving a 15-year sentence.
It was while she was serving this sentence that new charges were added to her list, for first degree murder. The sentence was more severe, based on the testimony of Griselda Blanco’s former hitman, Jorge Ayala.
In the Netflix series, Jorge Ayala is mostly introduced with his nickname “Rivi” . Griselda’s relationship with Jorge is beautiful and well explored, presenting him as a trusted and necessary ally in a deeply misogynistic industry.
The accusation of first degree murder ultimately failed: a sex scandal broke out concerning Jorge Ayala and involving the prosecutor’s office. Ultimately, Griselda Blanco was tried for second-degree murder, to which she pleaded guilty in 1998. The punishment therefore extended her sentence. In 2002, she suffered a heart attack while still behind bars.
She was then released in Medellín in 2004 due to health problems. Her last public appearance dates back to 2007, before being assassinated in 2012 by motorcycle killers. According to rumors, Griselda Blanco was active during her incarceration, continuing to manage her cartel.
The Griselda series has been available on Netflix since January 25, 2024.
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