Hitman
Transformed in Prison
Former Colombian
By Susan Loobie, OMS Director of Communications
Edier Osvaldo Ruiz began his life of crime
40 years ago. While only a child, 11 or 12 years old,
he became a part of the Medellín criminal cartel,
made famous by its leader, Pablo Escobar. From a
young age, Edier served as a contract killer, mur-
dering people in Medellín and beyond.
Edier lived with his mother and six siblings, earning just
enough to scrape by in those early years. By age 13, he quit
school to dedicate his life to crime. He soon began to climb
the ranks in the crime world. At 14, he met Pablo Escobar and
his family and was given a home as a reward. From 1990-92,
Edier was one of Colombia’s most wanted criminals. In 1993,
police killed Pablo Escobar in his hometown of Medellín.
Within a couple months of killing him, they captured Edier in
a huge sting operation.
Edier was indicted on 14 offenses, including murder, pos-
session of illegal arms, drug trafficking, and kidnapping to
name a few. He was sentenced to 60–70 years but eventually
received a 48–year sentence.
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