Netflix’s gripping new drama, “Griselda,” has rapidly become a sensation, dominating the top spot on streaming charts. This series offers a dramatized portrayal of Griselda Blanco, famously known as the “godmother of cocaine” in Miami, brought to life by Sofia Vergara. Blanco’s notorious reign during the 1970s and 80s saw her rise to become one of history’s most powerful and ruthless drug lords, a story previously explored in documentaries like “Cocaine Cowboys.” Beyond her pivotal role in introducing cocaine to Miami, Blanco was also believed by law enforcement to have orchestrated numerous murders.
Assistant US attorney Stephen Schlessinger described her as a “complete sociopath” in a 2012 interview with the Miami Herald, highlighting her propensity for violence over the slightest perceived offense. Blanco’s life of crime eventually caught up with her when she was fatally shot in Medellín, Colombia, in 2012. However, amidst her criminal empire, she was also a mother to four sons. The Netflix series delves into her relationships with these sons and the devastating impact of her criminal life on them. The finale depicts Griselda learning of the deaths of her three eldest sons, Dixon, Osvaldo, and Uber. But what truly happened to Griselda Blanco’s sons?
The Grim Realities: Deaths of Griselda Blanco’s Eldest Sons
Image: A promotional still from Netflix’s “Griselda” featuring actors portraying Griselda Blanco’s three eldest sons, Dixon, Uber, and Osvaldo, highlighting the series’ focus on their story.
While Netflix’s “Griselda” portrays the deaths of Blanco’s three oldest sons, the true timeline and circumstances surrounding each death remain somewhat ambiguous. Despite the uncertainties, it is confirmed that three of Griselda Blanco’s four children met violent ends, mirroring the dangerous world they were born into.
Griselda Blanco’s own downfall began in 1985 with her arrest on cocaine trafficking charges after a decade-long investigation. She served 13 years in federal prison, followed by a transfer to Florida, where she negotiated a plea deal in 1998 for three murder charges. Deported to Colombia in 2004, she was murdered in 2012.
Her three oldest sons, deeply enmeshed in her drug empire, faced similar consequences. Osvaldo and Dixon were incarcerated concurrently with their mother and released on parole in 1992. As depicted in “Griselda,” reports from The Washington Post and Miami Herald confirm that Osvaldo was killed in a nightclub in Colombia shortly after his parole in 1992.
Billy Corben, filmmaker of “Cocaine Cowboys,” in a 2012 Vice article about Blanco’s death, indicated that she was survived by sons Dixon and Michael. However, a Miami Herald report on her death in the same year stated that two of her sons had been assassinated in Colombia before her demise. Given Osvaldo’s 1992 death, Uber is presumed to be the second son assassinated before 2012, as Dixon was still believed to be alive then.
Adding clarity, Michael Corleone Blanco, Griselda’s youngest and only surviving son, confirmed in a 2020 interview with The Mirror that all three of his older brothers had been murdered. This indicates that Dixon’s death occurred sometime between 2012 and 2020, completing the tragic fate of Griselda Blanco’s three eldest sons.
Michael Corleone Blanco: The Surviving Son and Legal Battles
Image: Sofia Vergara as Griselda Blanco with Martin Fajardo portraying her youngest son Michael Corleone Blanco in Netflix’s “Griselda,” illustrating their complex mother-son relationship depicted in the series.
Michael Corleone Blanco, Griselda Blanco’s youngest son, has lived a life marked by his family’s legacy, often in the public eye. He was present during the 1983 assassination of his father, Dario Sepulveda, in Medellín. Sepulveda had fled to Colombia with Michael for safety, ironically from Griselda herself. Despite never being charged, Griselda was suspected of orchestrating Sepulveda’s murder.
Following Griselda’s arrest and the subsequent arrests of his older brothers, a young Michael was raised by legal guardians from the age of twelve. In a 2008 interview with AllHipHop.com, he described this unusual upbringing, essentially contracting legal guardians in a business-like manner.
Michael’s life has not been without its brushes with the law. In 2011, he faced cocaine trafficking charges, pleading not guilty and being under house arrest when his mother was killed in 2012. Fox News reported his probation concluded in 2018.
From 2019 to 2021, Michael participated in “Cartel Crew,” a VH1 reality show focusing on individuals linked to drug cartels. He stated in a Fox News interview that his mother’s death motivated him to leave the criminal world, seeking to break the “generational curse” for his own children.
Currently residing in Miami with his three children, Michael runs Puro Blanco, a clothing brand he describes as embodying a “billionaire cartel lifestyle” and a tribute to his mother. He also authored “My Mother, The Godmother,” a book detailing his life and his mother’s story.
Recently, Michael initiated legal action against Netflix, Sofia Vergara, and Latin World Entertainment just before “Griselda” premiered. The lawsuit alleges unauthorized use of his “private artistic literary work,” claiming the series is based on his stories and interviews without proper compensation or credit. He seeks damages and asserts that while willing to share his family’s story, he insists on fair compensation. His legal team conveyed to Business Insider that Netflix’s approach was disrespectful, suggesting that “common courtesy, consent, and compensation” could have averted the lawsuit.
Eric Newman, “Griselda’s” creator, and also the producer of “Narcos,” responded to the lawsuit with seasoned indifference, noting similar past experiences with Pablo Escobar’s family. He maintains that “Griselda” tells a specific story and doesn’t preclude others from sharing their own versions. Netflix has declined to comment on the ongoing legal dispute.
In conclusion, the lives of Griselda Blanco’s sons were tragically intertwined with her criminal empire. While details surrounding the deaths of Dixon, Osvaldo, and Uber remain somewhat fragmented, their violent ends underscore the brutal consequences of their mother’s world. Michael Corleone Blanco, the sole survivor, carries the weight of this legacy, navigating his life while grappling with his family’s notorious past and present legal battles.
References:
- Business Insider
- Miami Herald
- The Washington Post
- Vice
- The Mirror
- Miami New Times
- AllHipHop.com
- Fox News
- Entertainment Tonight
- Instagram (@michaelcorleoneblanco)
- mymotherthegodmother.com
- pureblanco_brand Instagram
