How did Griselda Blanco’s sons die?

The start of the year saw the arrival of Griselda, a Netflix series in which Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara portrays the infamous drug lord, Griselda Blanco. In real life, she experienced numerous tragedies as three of her sons died — here’s what happened.

Griselda was a success when it landed in January, earning 87% and 71% from critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Charting the reign of the Colombian drug lord’s cocaine trade in 1980s Miami, the show looks at why Blanco originally fled her home country, alongside the aftermath.

The Black Widow Griselda‘s story made it one of the best TV shows for viewers who like to explore seedy underbellies.

With that in mind, viewers might be wondering about Griselda Blanco’s children after they were depicted in the show. So, here’s everything you need to know about how her sons died.

How did Griselda Blanco’s sons die?

Out of Griselda Blanco’s four sons, three have died, two of which were reported shootings. Osvaldo or “Ozzy”, Dixon, and Uber were all killed before their mother died in 2012.

The deaths are touched on in Netflix’s limited series, with Dixon being targeted while returning by foot to his car. Ozzy was approached and killed in a nightclub, while Uber was shot in Colombia, carrying out a drug deal.

What happened to Griselda’s other son?

Michael Corleone Blanco — named after The Godfather — is Griselda Blanco’s only surviving son, and he’s not happy about the series airing.

Blanco initially filed a 10-page motion claiming that the streaming platform had stolen his “private artistic literary work” after two former partners allegedly informed Netflix without consent.

Griselda creators fired back at the blossoming lawsuit, stating that it “isn’t their first rodeo” after also being responsible for Narcos and Narcos Mexico. In February 2024, The Hollywood Reporter obtained court documents showing the lawsuit had been settled.

In 2020, Blanco told The Mirror about Griselda: “My mother was no saint. She had to survive to do her thing. But at the end of the day, she was my mother. I will forever honor and respect her. I love her.”

Griselda Blanco herself was killed in Colombia in 2012 during a drive-by shooting by an unknown assailant on a motorcycle.

After a lengthy prison sentence for conspiring to manufacture, import, and distribute cocaine – and later for second-degree murder – Blanco returned to Medellín in 2004 under the proviso of ongoing health issues. She had suffered from a heart attack two years prior. Griselda was last seen in public in 2007.

Griselda is available to stream on Netflix. If you’re looking for some fresh content, check out our roundup of the new TV shows to streaming this month. And if it’s true crime you’re after, look at the new documentaries streaming. Or, find out if Griselda Blanco knew Pablo Escobar.