Marie Peña-Orozco was born May 27, 1973, in Mexico City to parents, Carmen and Miguel Pérez-Orozco. Her father was a military officer (GAC), and her mother was a housewife. She attended public schools in Mexico City. Peña-Orozco, who is studying to become a special education teacher, was a member of the student organization of her neighborhood. Peña-Orozco was a member of the political party, The PAN. She participated in national political events such as the presidential election of September 2007, the first round of the CIC. During her time at university to obtain her doctorate, she was active in political activity both at home as a journalist with Ciudad Deportivo and for her work with “Apoí” (Voice of Mexico), which supported student causes. Peña-Orozco won the award for best student journalist from the Inter-American Press Association in 2009. Peña-Orozco received many awards and honors in her lifetime, including the EZLN “Association of Freedom of the Press”. In 2011, Peña-Orozco was elected to several terms as a member of the National Assembly. She will turn 70 in 2017.

On January 9, 2010, an indigenous group, the Oaxacan People and the Garifuna, in Chiapas, Zapatista-occupied land, the “Caracol Plantation,” was attacked by armed men and government troops. As government troops and paramilitaries entered the village, Peña-Orozco went to retrieve them at the police post. She says three women and two armed men entered the police post as Peña-Orozco was preparing to leave. They beat her with clubs, and shot her dog after she begged them to leave. Peña-Orozco had just spent half a year covering stories, including the Zapatista battle for control of Chiapas. She was shot in the leg. The armed men fled the scene. Peña-Orozco was brought to a local hospital where a medical team treated and received her. A few days after that, she underwent surgery to repair her leg. She was discharged from the hospital, and the day after that was the day during which her husband and family were arrested and accused of her kidnapping. The charges against her husband were