#TheOtherJGL Chapter 1 | La Otra Familia

Ovidio had a fancy pistol with ”JGL” at his arrest. I couldn’t help myself and wondered, “Ovidio has a gun with his brother’s initials on it.”

Interestingly, Jesús “El Rey” Zambada would testify that the gun belonged to Guzmán. Jesús Vicente “El Vicentillo” Zambada Niebla would also testify against “El Chapo.” 

The series begins with a quick overview of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, “El Chapo,” and his two most notable families, Salazar (Wife 1) and López (Wife 2). Then we look into Joaquín Guzmán López, which begins in May 2008 and includes any recent indictments. I have two original hypotheses to introduce when each is appropriate.

While #TheOtherJGL Project does not have a schedule, I respect your time, and the goal is to release a new chapter weekly. The unconventional research style becomes an obsession that I can only turn off once the series ends. Please be patient; this is a series where everything comes out at the end.

Finally, the information in this series comes from news outlets, official documents, and government data. My research also utilizes sources, leads, analysis, and original opinions. 

The Spanish language is rich with nicknames and specialty words, which I aim to incorporate into the title and weave throughout the story. Surprisingly, there isn’t a specific term for “my side wife and our kids.” 

In Mexico, individuals can only be in one legal marriage at a time. However, an unwritten rule permits wealthy and influential men to establish a secondary family without anyone’s approval. 

The first choice is that Guzmán married Griselda in 1980. If so, this would mean that in three years, “El Chapo” would have started a new honeymoon while potentially his real wife Salazar is pregnant with César.

The second choice says that they got married in the mid-1980s. This couple’s oldest child was born in 1986, so 1985 sounds plausible.”El Chapo”, the killer he was, still somehow found it appropriate to marry the wife and then get her pregnant. Option 2

1. Édgar Guzmán López is the first son of Guzmán Loera and Griselda López. He was born on May 30, 1986, and died a horrific death on May 9, 2008. The death of Édgar plays a significant role in the story and development of Joaquín Guzmán three. There will be a dedicated chapter on his death, as it also leads into my first hypothesis.

2. Joaquín Guzmán López is our main character and is the second oldest son of Guzmán Loera and Griselda López.

3. Ovidio Guzmán López was born on March 29, 1990, in Badiraguato, Sinaloa, the same municipality as his father. Ovidio spent his 33rd birthday in Mexican prison fighting extradition to The United States after being arrested in early January. He has earned a reputation as a pioneer in Fentanyl.

4. Griselda Guzmán López has the same name as her mother. She stays away from drug trafficking, although she recently married into a very well-connected family through Edgar Cázares. Griselda, her mother, and her half-sister all co-mingled online and did not find it necessary to research this as she has no role.

Family History

The first family is Salazar, with sons Iván and Jesús. I will reference them as Chapitos-Salazar often. The eldest son, César, has no role in the drug business and has had a legitimate career since 2009 that has been reported on.

The second family is López, with Edgar, Joaquín Guzmán López (JGL), and Ovidio. Joaquín Guzmán López (JGL) and Ovidio will be referenced as Chapitos-López.

SummaryThe goal for chapter one was to give everyone an abbreviated and necessary history of the two families. The most interesting note to share from the research is that “El Chapo” had two kids in the same month and year. Please don’t be confused; Jesús was not born in 1983. Iván was born in 1983, which is the correct age distance between the brothers and their sister’s birthday of 10/15/1981.

1. Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar