[1] It was not until his parents died of either hunger or a curable disease, depending on the version of the story, that Jesús Malverde began a life of banditry.

[6] According to the mythology of Malverde's life, he held a long-standing rivalry with Francisco Cañedo [es], the governor of Sinaloa, who he thought mistreated the poor.

[10] Since Malverde's supposed death, he has earned a Robin Hood-type image, making him popular among Sinaloa's poor highland residents.

[11] The outlaw image has caused him to be adopted as the "patron saint" of the region's illegal drug trade, and the press have thus dubbed him "the narco-saint.

"[12] However, his intercession is also sought by those with troubles of various kinds, and a number of supposed miracles have been locally attributed to him, including personal healings and blessings.

[3][13] They include candles, anointing oils, incense, sachet powders, bath crystals, soap and lithographed prints suitable for framing.

In several episodes of its spin-off series, Better Call Saul, Lalo Salamanca wears a necklace that contains a depiction of Malverde.