Top 10 Things Netflix's Griselda Left Out

While the series captures her ruthless nature, Griselda Blanco is depicted as a loving mother who has reservations about harming a child. Charles Cosby, an ex-lover of Blanco’s, paints a less sympathetic portrait. Growing up surrounded by crime, Blanco allegedly committed her first murder before turning 12. According to Cosby, Blanco kidnapped a local boy and held him for ransom. The boy came from a wealthy family, although they apparently didn’t take Blanco’s threats seriously. They should’ve, as their son was reportedly never seen alive again. Whether or not this story is true, it wouldn’t be long until Blanco became involved in pickpocketing, counterfeiting, and sex work. We’d say that Blanco’s childhood was short, but it’s debatable if she ever had one to begin with.

The “Griselda” finale speedruns through the last decades of Blanco’s life. After the authorities take her in, it’s implied that Blanco’s reign as Queenpin came to an end. That wasn’t necessarily the case, however. Although she was incarcerated for 19 years, it’s been suspected that Blanco continued to run her operation from behind bars. Charles Cosby, who wouldn’t meet Blanco until after her arrest, says that her imprisonment didn’t slow business down. Cosby once testified that he met with Blanco’s youngest son, Michael Corleone, who said that his mother had some cocaine that she wanted the two to sell. Cosby was quick to get on board, claiming that within 45 days of knowing Blanco, he was already turning into a millionaire.

Cosby isn’t depicted in “Griselda,” but he played a prominent role during Blanco’s prison years. In addition to working for Blanco, Cosby claims that they entered a romantic relationship, despite being separated by nearly two decades years. Cosby suggests that the two had instantaneous chemistry with Blanco slipping him the tongue upon meeting. Blanco also bribed the guards $1,500 so that she could have intercourse with Cosby in a back room. On the outside, Cosby was seeing another woman named Amber, which he says drove Blanco to put a hit out on him. Cosby alleges that he was shot four times by a stoplight, but he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Their relationship ended following Cosby’s next prison visit when Blanco supposedly strangled him.

They say that marijuana is a gateway drug. The same can be applied to those who distribute drugs. Before becoming the Cocaine Godmother, Blanco got her hands dirty selling cannabis. Blanco married Carlos Trujillo, dealing cannabis together in Colombia. After splitting with Trujillo, Blanco moved to Queens with their three sons and her next husband, Alberto Bravo. Cannabis was their source of income, but it was only a matter of time until Blanco and Bravo transitioned to cocaine, which they found easier to smuggle. It was around this time that Blanco realized that bras were ideal for concealing product. While “Griselda” touches upon some of this, it largely skips over Blanco’s early criminal career to when she started to hit the big time.

Alberto Bravo and Blanco’s third husband, Darío Sepúlveda, both play substantial roles in “Griselda.” Yet, we learn little about Blanco’s first husband, Carlos Trujillo. Blanco was barely a teenager when she first met Trujillo, going on to have three of her four sons with him. Although the marriage didn’t last, Blanco and Trujillo continued their professional partnership… for a period. It’s been said that Trujillo wasn’t the healthiest person, supposedly dying from cirrhosis in the 70s. However, many firmly believe that Blanco was responsible for his death. Presumably, the two didn’t see eye to eye on business, compelling Blanco to order Trujillo’s execution. This would be Blanco’s first step toward attaining the nickname The Black Widow with her future husbands meeting similar ends.

The miniseries opens with an alleged quote from Pablo Escobar, but the Colombian Godfather is otherwise MIA. While Escobar did know of Blanco, the nature of their relationship has been debated. A rumor circulated that they were lovers, although the two were likely no more than business rivals. Escobar became an apprentice smuggler around the same time Blanco got her cocaine enterprise off the ground. Both had operations in Medellín, reportedly feuding over territory. Blanco asserted her authority by targeting Escobar’s gang in drew-by shootings. This didn’t scare Escobar away for good. He’d use his influence to take control of the local airport, forcing Blanco to rethink her distribution. Blanco would eventually return to Medellín, which is where she and Escobar both bit the bullet.

The show gives June Hawkins most of the credit for taking down Blanco. Hawkins was indeed a key figure in the case, but her rivalry with Blanco is exaggerated. In reality, Hawkins wasn’t the one mainly responsible for Blanco’s downfall. That distinction arguably goes to Bob Palombo, who infiltrated Blanco’s family using an informant. Although he doesn’t pop up until the penultimate episode, Palombo spent ten years chasing Blanco before capturing her. Palombo felt this moment was so overdue that he greeted Blanco with a kiss on the cheek. Following the arrest, Palombo sat in the back with Blanco, who appeared “visibly shaken.” Reflecting on Blanco, Palombo said, “I don’t wish death on anybody, but if anybody deserved the ultimate punishment… it was her.”

“Griselda” leaves out possibly the most ludicrous part of Blanco’s criminal career. Granted, it might just be a rumor, but we wouldn’t put kidnapping the former president’s son past Blanco. Ten years after her capture, Blanco was still facing potential murder charges. During her incarceration, Blanco supposedly plotted to have John F. Kennedy Jr. captured and use him as leverage to ensure her freedom. The plot never came to fruition, assuming that it was even real to begin with. Kennedy would infamously die in a 1999 plane crash, five years before Blanco was released due to her declining health. The FBI was unable to confirm if Kennedy was ever in jeopardy of being kidnapped by Blanco’s henchmen. That said, they couldn’t disprove the conspiracy either.

“Griselda” explores the fates of Blanco’s three eldest sons, although it’s unclear how Dixon and Uber actually died. In any case, Michael Corleone is Blanco’s only surviving son, but we’re given little insight into what became of him. Corleon was brought up by his grandmother and various legal guardians throughout his mother’s sentence. He’d continue the family business while also overseeing a hip-hop label, Xtorxion Records. Shortly before his mother was killed, Corleon was arrested and placed under house arrest. Since his probation ended, Corleon has seemingly gone legit, appearing on reality shows like “Cartel Crew.” Corleon says that he didn’t give Netflix his blessing to make “Griselda” or receive credit. As such, he’s pursuing legal action against Netflix, Latin World Entertainment, and Sofía Vergara.

After being released and deported in 2004, Blanco survived another eight years, which is impressive for someone who made so many enemies. The final episode leaves us with a message saying that Blanco was “gunned down by an unknown assassin while exiting a butcher shop” at age 69. What the show doesn’t tell us is that Blanco died in a fashion that was all too familiar to her. At the height of her power, Blanco became notorious for orchestrating drive-by motorcycle shootings. When Blanco was running errands in 2012, she was shot twice in - you guessed it - a motorcycle ride-by. Maybe it was a coincidence, but chances are that whoever ordered the hit wanted Blanco to die in this specific manner.

Do you have fascinating details about Griselda Blanco that didn’t make the cut? Share them in the comments.