Many people search the name Angeles and want to know who she really is. She is best known as the wife of Sebastián Marroquín, the son of former drug lord Pablo Escobar, but her own story is rich and complex. This article looks at her early life, her love story, and her quiet years in Argentina. By the end, you will have a clear picture of who María Ángeles Sarmiento is beyond the famous last name.
Quick Bio of María Ángeles Sarmiento
| Bio Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | María Ángeles Sarmiento |
| Birth Name | Doria Andrea Ochoa (Andrea Ochoa) |
| Known For | Wife of Sebastián Marroquín |
| Husband | Sebastián Marroquín / Juan Pablo Escobar |
| Connection | Daughter-in-law of Pablo Escobar |
| Nationality | Reported Mexican, raised in Colombia |
| Place Raised | Medellín, Colombia |
| Current Residence | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Marriage | Civil in Mexico, church wedding 2003 in Argentina |
| Children | One son: Juan Emilio |
| Education | Studied Advertising (University of Belgrano) |
| Known Interests | Painting and private family life |
Early life and real name
Before she was known as María Ángeles Sarmiento, she was called Doria Andrea Ochoa, or simply Andrea Ochoa. She grew up in Medellín, Colombia, in an ordinary family far from the violent world of the cartels. As a teenager, she studied at a local Catholic school and lived a normal life with school, friends, and parties.
The life of Angeles changed when she met a shy boy named Juan Pablo Escobar at a school party. He was only 13, she was around 17 or 18. At first, she did not know the full danger behind his family name. When she learned he was the son of Pablo Escobar, she was afraid, but she chose to stay with him.

Love story with Juan Pablo Escobar
The young couple began a secret relationship in Medellín. Even at that age, María Ángeles Sarmiento showed strong character. She did not like flashy cars or guards around him. She wanted a normal boyfriend, not a prince from a crime world. Still, she accepted the risk of dating the son of the most feared man in Colombia.
When the war against Pablo Escobar grew, the world of Angeles became more dangerous. Bombs, threats, and hiding became part of daily life. Many people would walk away, but she stayed close to Juan Pablo, visiting safe houses and moving with his family. This loyalty in such dark times is one of the facts that fans of series like “Narcos” often forget.
Exile and new identity in Argentina
After the death of Pablo Escobar, his family was in danger from enemies and the law. Juan Pablo, his mother, sister, and María Ángeles Sarmiento tried to get asylum in many countries. They faced rejection, fear, and long trips. Finally, they could start a new life in Argentina, far from Colombia and the headlines.
In Argentina, everyone in the family received new legal names. Juan Pablo Escobar became Sebastián Marroquín, his mother became María Isabel Santos, and his sister and girlfriend also changed their names. Under this new system, María Ángeles Sarmiento took on the identity that the world now knows. This step let them live, study, and work like normal people again.
Marriage, family, and son
The love between María Ángeles Sarmiento and Sebastián Marroquín did not end with exile. They planned to marry, but the process was not easy. Because of passport and document issues, she first went to Mexico City to complete a civil marriage in a notary office. Later, they had a small religious wedding in Buenos Aires, surrounded by close family.
Today, Angeles and Sebastián Marroquín are known to have one son, Juan Emilio. The family lives in Buenos Aires, close to Sebastián’s mother and sister. They choose a quiet life, far from red carpets and fame. For them, safety, peace, and their child’s future are more important than the drama around the Escobar name.
Age, nationality, and private life
The exact age of María Ángeles Sarmiento is not public, but we can make a safe guess. If she was about four or five years older than Juan Pablo in the late 1980s, she is likely in her early fifties today. She is older than her husband, but they grew into adults together, sharing the same hard years of fear and exile.
Many readers also ask about the nationality of María Ángeles Sarmiento. Sources say she has Mexican nationality, even though she spent her teen years in Colombia and later moved to Argentina. In the end, her life is a mix of countries and cultures, shaped by war, migration, and the search for a safe home.
Career, studies, and art
Life in Argentina pushed María Ángeles Sarmiento to build a new identity not only on paper but also in her work. Reports say she studied advertising at the University of Belgrano in Buenos Aires. While her husband studied industrial design and architecture, she followed her own academic path in a quiet way, away from newspapers and TV cameras.
Over time, Angeles also found comfort in art. She began painting as a form of therapy, to deal with stress and memories of the past. Visitors say that their apartment is full of her colorful paintings. This simple detail shows a woman who prefers to heal and create, instead of chasing noise and fame.
Daily life in Buenos Aires
In Buenos Aires, the couple try to live like any other middle‑class family. Angeles takes care of the home, supports her husband’s projects, and looks after their son. Neighbours see them doing normal things: shopping for food, walking in the park, and going to school meetings. For them, the big goal is to give their child a calm life without bodyguards or guns.
The family also stays close to María Isabel Santos and Manuela, the mother and sister of Sebastián Marroquín. Birthdays and holidays are simple, with small family dinners instead of large parties. Friends say that Angeles prefers a few trusted people around her, not big social circles. After years of fear and travel, quiet routine is the strongest luxury.
Net worth and money myths
Because she is linked to the Escobar family, people often search “María Ángeles Sarmiento net worth” and expect a big number. The truth is very different. After Pablo Escobar died, most of his fortune was lost, seized, or controlled by others. Sebastián Marroquín has said many times that the family had to start from zero and build an honest life.
There is no serious public data on the personal net worth of María Ángeles Sarmiento. Many figures online are only guesses for SEO, not real facts. It is safer to say that she and her husband live from his work as an architect, writer, and speaker, and from normal business projects, not from hidden drug money.

In documentaries and media
While Sebastián Marroquín appears in many interviews and talks, María Ángeles Sarmiento usually stays off camera. She does not enjoy the spotlight. Still, her presence is felt in films like “Sins of My Father”, a famous documentary where Sebastián faces victims of his father and speaks about peace, guilt, and forgiveness.
Some Latin American documentaries and news reports show short scenes with María Ángeles Sarmiento at home or by her husband’s side. She is not the main star, but she is always there in the background, calm and quiet. In this way, she becomes a symbol of a different path: a life based on family, privacy, and healing, not on crime stories.
Role in Sebastián’s change of image
Over the years, Sebastián Marroquín has become a public voice for peace and memory. He writes books, gives talks, and appears in films to say that crime only brings pain. Behind this change, Angeles plays an important emotional role. She is the person who listens to his doubts at night and helps him stay on a non‑violent path.
When Sebastián meets victims of his father in events or in “Sins of My Father”, he often speaks about the support of his family. Even if cameras focus on him, the steady presence of Angeles and their son gives him courage. Their stable home makes it possible for him to face the past without repeating it.
Misconceptions and online rumours
Because the Escobar story is so famous, the internet is full of rumours about Angeles. Some sites mix her up with other women who have similar names. Other pages invent jobs, deaths, or scandals just to get clicks. Many users type her name with words like “Wikipedia”, “age”, or “split”, and then find pages that repeat the same stories without proof. This makes it hard for readers to know what is true and what is only marketing.
A good rule is to trust interviews, court records, and serious newspapers more than random blogs. When details are not clear, it is better to say “we do not know” than to spread a lie. The life of Sebastián Marroquín and his wife already includes enough drama. They do not need extra myths added by strangers online.
Why her story still matters
The story of María Ángeles Sarmiento matters because it reminds us that people close to famous criminals can choose another road. She did not take part in the crimes of Pablo Escobar. Instead, she chose love, exile, and a low‑profile life, even when this meant risk and poverty. Her loyalty helped Sebastián Marroquín break from hate and look for peace.
When we watch series or movies about Escobar, it is easy to forget the quiet figures like María Ángeles Sarmiento. Yet her journey from Andrea Ochoa in Medellín to a calm artist and mother in Buenos Aires shows a very human side of this dark history. By knowing her story, we see that even in the shadow of a cartel, some people still work for a normal, honest life.
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