Liliana Lozano
Encyclopedia
Liliana Andrea Lozano was a Colombian actress and beauty queen, and was the girlfriend of drug lord Leonidas Vargas
. Lozano won a national beauty contest at the Carnival in Colombia
in 1995. She started her television career as a game show presenter, and eventually acted on such shows as Pasión de Gavilanes
and La Dama de Troya
. On January 10, 2009, Lozano was found dead in Pradera
along with Fabio Vargas, the brother of Leonidas Vargas. Both were tortured and shot to death, which authorities said could have been retaliation from drug dealers.
, to Luis Carlos Lozano and Dora Garzón. In 1994, Lozano won the Queen of Bambuco
beauty contest in Caquetá, and won the national beauty queen title at the annual Carnival in Colombia
in 1995. Also that year, Lozano began her television career, working as a game show presenter. She also briefly appeared in the soap opera Pasión de Gavilanes
(Passion of the Sparrowhawks), one of the most successful Colombian soap operas, which was seen in more than 40 countries. Lozano played a nurse on the show.
Lozano also appeared on the shows La familia Cheveroni, Infieles anónimos, Así es la vida, Amor de mis amores and Marido a Sueldo. Her final acting appearance was in 2008 on La Dama de Troya
(The Woman from Troy) as Carmentea, a character who, like Lozano herself, won the Bambuco beauty queen contest.
Lozano had a romantic relationship with Pablo Martin, a Venezuela
n actor who starred in the soap opera Dora, la celadora (Dora the Keeper). Lozano was also said to have been romantically involved with the former football player Faustino Asprilla
, which neither of the two confirmed or denied. Some time prior to 2009, Lozano underwent facelift
surgery.
, a Colombian drug lord
who led a multi-million dollar cocaine empire. On January 8, 2009, Vargas was shot to death in a hospital room by what authorities believed were two professional hitmen. On January 10, Lozano was shot to death along with Fabio Vargas, the brother of Leonidas Vargas. The bodies of Lozano and Fabio Vargas were found in a ditch outside a hotel in Pradera
, a town in the Colombian department
of Valle del Cauca
, near Cali
. Police believed the two were staying in the hotel, where they were tortured and murdered. Both bodies were found half-naked, with their hands and feet bound and plastic taped over their heads. Authorities believed the two killings could have been retaliation from drug dealers, and the fact that they so closely followed the murder of Leonidas Vargas could have been a sign of a bloody war waged to take control of Vargas' cocaine business. Valle del Cauca authorities offered a 50 million peso reward to anyone who could provide information leading to the capture of the killers of Lozano and Fabio Vargas. Lozano spent the days before her death celebrating New Year's Day
with her family in Neiva
.
Leonidas Vargas
Leonidas Vargas , also known as "El Viejo" and "The King of Caqueta", was a Colombian drug lord who headed a multi-million dollar cocaine empire associated with the Medellín Cartel and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia...
. Lozano won a national beauty contest at the Carnival in Colombia
Carnival in Colombia
The carnival in Colombia was introduced by the Spanish. The Colombian carnival has incorporated elements from European culture, and has managed to syncretise, or re-interpret, traditions that belonged to the African and Amerindian cultures of Colombia...
in 1995. She started her television career as a game show presenter, and eventually acted on such shows as Pasión de Gavilanes
Pasión de gavilanes
Pasión de Gavilanes was a popular Colombian telenovela that ran for 188 episodes, from 2003 to 2004. Written by Julio Jiménez, it was produced by RTI Colombia in conjunction with the Telemundo network and with the participation of Caracol TV company. In Colombia, it was broadcast by Caracol TV...
and La Dama de Troya
La Dama de Troya
La Dama de Troya is a Colombian telenovela that has aired since April 15, 2008 on Colombian network RCN. This telenovela is produced by Fox Telecolombia. It was launched to reinforce the prime time schedule on RCN on the same narrative tone of previous RCN successful telenovela Pura Sangre ,...
. On January 10, 2009, Lozano was found dead in Pradera
Pradera
Pradera is a town and municipality located in the Department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia.The FARC requested this municipality together with Florida, Valle del Cauca as free areas for them to operate in order to start the negotiation to exchange 44 hostages they had, at the time of their request,...
along with Fabio Vargas, the brother of Leonidas Vargas. Both were tortured and shot to death, which authorities said could have been retaliation from drug dealers.
Biography
Liliana Lozano was born in 1978 in GuatavitaGuatavita
Guatavita is a municipality and town of Colombia in the department of Cundinamarca. There you can find the Guatavita's lake, that were a sacred and ceremonial lake for the Quimbayas indians.- External links :*...
, to Luis Carlos Lozano and Dora Garzón. In 1994, Lozano won the Queen of Bambuco
Bambuco
Bambuco is a traditional music genre originated from Colombia. It has a beat structure similar to the European waltz or polska...
beauty contest in Caquetá, and won the national beauty queen title at the annual Carnival in Colombia
Carnival in Colombia
The carnival in Colombia was introduced by the Spanish. The Colombian carnival has incorporated elements from European culture, and has managed to syncretise, or re-interpret, traditions that belonged to the African and Amerindian cultures of Colombia...
in 1995. Also that year, Lozano began her television career, working as a game show presenter. She also briefly appeared in the soap opera Pasión de Gavilanes
Pasión de gavilanes
Pasión de Gavilanes was a popular Colombian telenovela that ran for 188 episodes, from 2003 to 2004. Written by Julio Jiménez, it was produced by RTI Colombia in conjunction with the Telemundo network and with the participation of Caracol TV company. In Colombia, it was broadcast by Caracol TV...
(Passion of the Sparrowhawks), one of the most successful Colombian soap operas, which was seen in more than 40 countries. Lozano played a nurse on the show.
Lozano also appeared on the shows La familia Cheveroni, Infieles anónimos, Así es la vida, Amor de mis amores and Marido a Sueldo. Her final acting appearance was in 2008 on La Dama de Troya
La Dama de Troya
La Dama de Troya is a Colombian telenovela that has aired since April 15, 2008 on Colombian network RCN. This telenovela is produced by Fox Telecolombia. It was launched to reinforce the prime time schedule on RCN on the same narrative tone of previous RCN successful telenovela Pura Sangre ,...
(The Woman from Troy) as Carmentea, a character who, like Lozano herself, won the Bambuco beauty queen contest.
Lozano had a romantic relationship with Pablo Martin, a Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n actor who starred in the soap opera Dora, la celadora (Dora the Keeper). Lozano was also said to have been romantically involved with the former football player Faustino Asprilla
Faustino Asprilla
Faustino Hernán "Tino" Asprilla Hinestroza is a former Colombian football player. He was known by his supporters in his home country as The Octopus for his voracious appetite...
, which neither of the two confirmed or denied. Some time prior to 2009, Lozano underwent facelift
Rhytidectomy
A facelift, technically known as a rhytidectomy , is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure used to give a more youthful appearance...
surgery.
Death
Relatives said since about 2006, Lozano had been involved in a romantic relationship with Leonidas VargasLeonidas Vargas
Leonidas Vargas , also known as "El Viejo" and "The King of Caqueta", was a Colombian drug lord who headed a multi-million dollar cocaine empire associated with the Medellín Cartel and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia...
, a Colombian drug lord
Drug lord
A drug lord, drug baron or kingpin is the term used to describe a person who controls a sizable network of persons involved in the illegal drugs trade. Such figures are often difficult to bring to justice, as they might never be directly in possession of something illegal, but are insulated from...
who led a multi-million dollar cocaine empire. On January 8, 2009, Vargas was shot to death in a hospital room by what authorities believed were two professional hitmen. On January 10, Lozano was shot to death along with Fabio Vargas, the brother of Leonidas Vargas. The bodies of Lozano and Fabio Vargas were found in a ditch outside a hotel in Pradera
Pradera
Pradera is a town and municipality located in the Department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia.The FARC requested this municipality together with Florida, Valle del Cauca as free areas for them to operate in order to start the negotiation to exchange 44 hostages they had, at the time of their request,...
, a town in the Colombian department
Departments of Colombia
Colombia is an unitary republic formed by thirty-two departments and a Capital District . Each department has a Governor and a Department Assembly , elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected in consecutive periods...
of Valle del Cauca
Valle del Cauca Department
Valle del Cauca is a department of Colombia. It is in the western side of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean, and it is considered one of the most important departments in the Republic of Colombia. Its capital is Santiago de Cali...
, near Cali
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
. Police believed the two were staying in the hotel, where they were tortured and murdered. Both bodies were found half-naked, with their hands and feet bound and plastic taped over their heads. Authorities believed the two killings could have been retaliation from drug dealers, and the fact that they so closely followed the murder of Leonidas Vargas could have been a sign of a bloody war waged to take control of Vargas' cocaine business. Valle del Cauca authorities offered a 50 million peso reward to anyone who could provide information leading to the capture of the killers of Lozano and Fabio Vargas. Lozano spent the days before her death celebrating New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
with her family in Neiva
Neiva
Neiva is the Capital of the Department of Huila. It is located in the valley of the Magdalena River in south central Colombia with a population of about 378,857 inhabitants...
.