María Ángeles Sarmiento is best known as the wife of Sebastián Marroquín, the man who was born Juan Pablo Escobar, son of Pablo Escobar. She lives far from public attention, but her name appears often in searches because her life is tied to one of the most famous crime stories in Latin America. This article explains who she is, her background, and how her marriage survived exile and pressure.
Quick Bio of María de los Ángeles Sarmiento del Valle
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full current name | María de los Ángeles Sarmiento del Valle |
| Commonly known as | María Ángeles Sarmiento |
| Reported birth name | Doria Andrea Ochoa (also Andrea Ochoa) |
| Famous for | Wife of Sebastián Marroquín |
| Husband’s birth name | Juan Pablo Escobar |
| Father-in-law | Pablo Escobar |
| First met Sebastián | Around 1990, in Medellín, Colombia |
| Age difference | Reportedly about 5 years older than Sebastián |
| Moved to Argentina | Mid-1990s, after Escobar’s death |
| Marriage year | 2003, Buenos Aires |
| Children | One son, Juan Emilio Marroquín |
| Current home | Buenos Aires, Argentina (Palermo area) |
A private woman in a very public story
María Ángeles Sarmiento avoids fame. She rarely appears in interviews, does not seek media attention, and keeps her personal life closed. Because of that, people often feel there is a mystery around her.
Most of what we know comes from careful reports about the Escobar family and from details shared by her husband in documentaries and books. So, her story is real, but it is told quietly and with limited public records.
Her real name and the reason for change
Before exile, she was widely reported as Doria Andrea Ochoa, also called Andrea Ochoa. After Pablo Escobar died in 1993, the family faced serious danger. They needed new identities to survive.
In Argentina, Andrea took a new legal name: María de los Ángeles Sarmiento del Valle, often shortened online to María Ángeles Sarmiento. That is why people search for “maria angeles sarmiento andrea ochoa” and find both names linked to one person.
Nationality and early life
Her full birth details are not public, so searches like “maría ángeles sarmiento nacionalidad” and “maría ángeles sarmiento edad” do not have one official answer. Still, major reports agree she lived in Medellín, Colombia as a teenager.
Some profiles add that she had early roots in Mexico and later lived in Colombia. Today, her adult life is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she built a family under her new identity.
How she met Juan Pablo Escobar
The relationship started around 1990. Juan Pablo was about 13 years old, and she was around 17 or 18, which made her older by a few years. They met while his father was already at war with the state and rivals.
Many sources say Pablo Escobar disliked the relationship at first. He feared the danger around his son and did not want him dating an older girl. But the couple stayed together despite that pressure.
Life during the cartel years
To understand María Ángeles Sarmiento, you must remember the violent context. In the early 1990s, Colombia faced bombings, kidnappings, and constant fear. The Escobar family moved again and again to stay alive.
She was still young, yet she chose to remain part of Juan Pablo’s life. Reports say she traveled with the family during attempts to escape the violence. This decision shaped her future as a loyal partner.
Exile after Pablo Escobar’s death
After Pablo Escobar was killed on December 2, 1993, his family became targets. Several countries refused to take them in. Finally, Argentina accepted them in the mid-1990s.
They entered Argentina with new names. Juan Pablo became Sebastián Marroquín, his mother became María Isabel Santos, and his girlfriend became María Ángeles Sarmiento. Their goal was a normal life far from revenge.
Starting over in Buenos Aires
In Buenos Aires, Sebastián studied architecture and worked to build a legal career. María Ángeles Sarmiento also remained low-profile, focused on family life. Some biographies say she studied advertising, but she does not speak publicly about her work.
They lived quietly in the Palermo area, trying to avoid attention. For them, safety was more important than status. Their new life was about peace, not riches.
The 1999 investigation and a major test
In 1999, Argentine media discovered the family’s true identity. Soon after, authorities opened a large money-laundering case. Sebastián and his mother were arrested and investigated for years.
During this hard period, María Ángeles Sarmiento stayed beside him. Reports say he proposed while he was in prison, and she accepted. That choice showed deep trust when the future was unclear.
The wedding in 2003
Sebastián and María Ángeles Sarmiento married in 2003 in Buenos Aires. The ceremony was Catholic, outdoors, and private. It was not a public show, but a calm moment after years of chaos.
Since then, their marriage has continued away from headlines. Their relationship is often described as steady because it survived danger before it ever reached comfort.
Their child and family life
The couple has one son, often called Juan Emilio Marroquín. He is not a public figure. His parents protect his privacy and want him to grow up away from the Escobar shadow.
People also search “maría ángeles sarmiento manuela escobar.” Manuela Escobar is Sebastián’s sister, so María Ángeles Sarmiento is her sister-in-law. The family keeps this circle very private.
Net worth and lifestyle
Searches like “maria angeles sarmiento net worth” are common. But there is no confirmed public number for her personal wealth. Any exact figure online is only speculation.
Sebastián has said he did not live off a hidden cartel fortune. Instead, he rebuilt his life through legal work. So the family’s lifestyle in Argentina appears comfortable but not extravagant.
Why split rumors appear online
Another secondary search is “maria angeles sarmiento split.” These rumors appear mostly because she stays invisible in public. When there are no photos, gossip sites fill the quiet space.
Reliable recent profiles still speak of her as Sebastián’s wife. There is no strong public evidence of divorce. Their long history suggests continuity, not separation.
Her role in Sebastián’s mission of peace
Sebastián Marroquín travels the world speaking about forgiveness and the damage caused by drugs. He has written books and joined documentaries to explain how he rejected his father’s path.
María Ángeles Sarmiento does not appear on stage with him, but her calm presence supports that mission. A private home life helps him speak about peace with honesty.
Media influence and public curiosity
Many people first learn about Escobar through shows like Narcos and films about the Medellín Cartel. These stories focus on crime, so viewers later search for the real survivors.
Because of that, María Ángeles Sarmiento becomes a common search topic. She is not a celebrity by choice, but her life is linked to a global story that never fully disappears.
The contrast with Pablo Escobar’s world
The old Escobar world was shaped by fear, power, and violence. María Ángeles Sarmiento represents the opposite. Her adult life is built around privacy, legality, and family stability.
This contrast shows the meaning of exile and identity change. Sebastián and María Ángeles Sarmiento chose a different future, even if their past followed them across borders.
What her story teaches
The son of a drug lord could have repeated the same life. Instead, he became an architect, author, and peace speaker. His wife’s loyalty helped him stay on that new road.
María Ángeles Sarmiento shows how love can survive extreme pressure. She entered a dangerous story as a teenager and stayed through exile, prison, and public judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is María Ángeles Sarmiento?
María Ángeles Sarmiento is the wife of Sebastián Marroquín (born Juan Pablo Escobar), and she lives a private life in Argentina. - What was María Ángeles Sarmiento’s real name before exile?
Most reports say her birth name was Doria Andrea Ochoa (also called Andrea Ochoa). - Why did María Ángeles Sarmiento change her name?
She changed her name for safety after Pablo Escobar died, when the family moved to Argentina. - Do María Ángeles Sarmiento and Sebastián Marroquín have children?
Yes, they have one son, often named Juan Emilio Marroquín. - Is there any confirmed news about a split or divorce?
No reliable source confirms a split. Recent profiles still describe them as married.
Key facts to remember
María Ángeles Sarmiento was once known as Andrea Ochoa, the teenage girlfriend of Juan Pablo Escobar. She changed identity during exile and later became Sebastián’s wife in Argentina.
Today, María Ángeles Sarmiento lives quietly with her husband and son in Buenos Aires. She avoids media attention, but her role in this family story is important because it reflects survival and starting again.
