Impact x Nightline (Image via Unsplash/@Martin Podsiad)
Pablo Escobar, who led Colombia’s Medellin Cartel in the cocaine trade during the 1980s and early 1990s, retained control of most of its operations. His violent reign brought fear and death to many families.
The only son of Juan Pablo Escobar Henao, born in 1977, he lived his life in an environment filled with wealth but faced constant threats from bodyguards and violent attacks from his father’s profession.
After Pablo Escobar’s death in a shootout with police on December 2, 1993, his 16-year-old son faced dangerous situations with his mother and sister. The family moved from Colombia to Argentina, where they used false identities to protect themselves from danger.
Sebastián Marroquín changed his name from Juan Pablo Escobar and studied architecture while living a peaceful life away from his father’s criminal activities.
He works as an architect, author and public speaker based in Buenos Aires promoting peace and informing youth about the real consequences of drug-related crimes.
He has tried to mend his family’s past by meeting victims’ families and sharing their stories. the matter has come to light Impact x Nightline: Raised by Killers: Escobar is growing up Which will air on May 7, 2026 via Hulu and Disney+.
Impact x Nightline: Raised by Killers: Escobar Growing Up: Childhood and life of Pablo Escobar in Colombia
Sebastián Marroquín, born Juan Pablo Escobar Henao on 24 February 1977, spent his formative years in Medellín during the height of his father’s power. The family lived on a large estate called Hacienda Napoles, which had a private zoo with elephants and giraffes.
Trips to Disney World and expensive parties were common, but so were armed guards and the fear that came with Pablo Escobar’s business. Young Juan Pablo had few friends because other children were afraid of his father.
At the age of 14 he once asked his father on television about people who had died due to cartel violence. His father called him “my 14-year-old pacifist son”. Life combined immense wealth with constant danger.
The bodyguards, known as sicarios, also acted as nannies for the boy. These early years shaped him, but he later said that the violence left a deep impact. After his father’s death in 1993, the family knew they could not remain in Colombia. According to the Guardian, threats forced them to leave everything behind and start over in secret.
Escape from Colombia and new life in Argentina
After the death of Pablo Escobar, 16-year-old Juan Pablo, his mother, sister and girlfriend left Colombia in an armored car after the funeral. He stayed in Mozambique for a while before settling in Argentina.
There, he entered a witness-protection-style program and changed his name. Juan Pablo became Sebastian Marroquín and his mother took on a new identity. The family faced difficult times at first.
Even with the hidden money, they sometimes struggled to buy basic food because they could not afford it safely. Sebastian studied hard and earned a degree in Architecture and Industrial Design from the University of Palermo in Buenos Aires.
She kept her past a secret for many years so that she could live a normal life. “This is my real name now,” he said of his new identity. “Even my wife calls me Sebastian.” Over time he built a stable life in the Palermo Soho area of Buenos Aires.
He married his longtime girlfriend, María Ángeles Sarmiento, and they had a son named Juan Emil. The move gave the family a chance to leave the violence behind and live in peace, The Guardian reports.
Career as an architect and writer
After settling in Argentina, Sebastián Marroquín chose a career in architecture and industrial design. He completed his studies at university and now works as an architect in Buenos Aires.
For years he kept his identity a secret so that customers and neighbors would not associate him with Pablo Escobar. He decided to share his life story publicly at the end of his life. In 2014 he wrote the book Pablo Escobar: My Father. He has shared memories of his childhood in the book which includes both his positive and challenging experiences.
He has written separate books and is set to release a graphic novel in 2025, depicting his life story. The works present a child’s view of the authentic cartel existence that they describe in their writings.
Marroquin wants youth to understand that drug crime leads to nothing but suffering and death. Apart from his writing work, he also gives motivational speeches.
He wants people to choose non-violent solutions while maintaining peace. According to The Guardian, his work as an architect and writer enabled him to achieve financial independence and build his own future without his father’s influence.
Watch Impact x Nightline: Raised by Killers: Escobar’s Growing Up On Hulu and Disney+.
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