Lydia Echevarría was born on October 14, 1931, in Caguas, Puerto Rico. She grew up in a family where she developed an interest in the arts at a young age. Lydia's early life was marked by her involvement in local performances and community theater. This interest set the stage for her future career in acting.

In 1960, Lydia met producer Luis Vigoreaux during a show called La Hora Cero, which he produced. Their meeting led to a romantic relationship, and the couple married shortly after on February 10, 1960. Following their marriage, Lydia worked alongside her husband. She became a co-host on several television shows in the 1960s and 1970s, such as Pa'rriba Papi Pa'rriba and Sube Nene Sube. These shows were shown on WAPA-TV and gained significant popularity.

Lydia and Luis had two daughters, named Vanessa and Glendaly Vigoreaux. The family became well-known in Puerto Rico, both for their personal lives and for their involvement in the entertainment industry. Lydia also appeared in several films and soap operas. Some of her notable roles include her performance as Dona Ana in the film Doña Ana in 2003 and as Evangelina in the film Life During Wartime in 2009. She was part of TV series such as Vivir para ti and Yo sé que mentía in the early 1980s.

In 1982, Lydia Echevarría became involved in a scandal when her husband, Luis Vigoreaux, was found burnt to death in his car. This incident happened shortly after rumors of an affair between Luis and model Nydia Castillo began circulating. The public quickly speculated about his death, with many suspects emerging in the media.

By 1984, Echevarría was formally accused of being involved in her husband's death. The trial that followed was highly publicized and attracted significant attention in Puerto Rico. Many people were eager to see how the case would unfold due to the couple's celebrity status.

In 1986, Lydia Echevarría was convicted and sentenced to 208 years in a women's prison in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. Over time, her health began to worsen while she was in custody. In 1999, the governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Rosselló, allowed her to leave prison to live at home under curfew.

Echevarría returned to her acting career in 2001 by presenting a play called "Confinadas" at the same prison where she had served her sentence. Since then, she has taken part in various stage productions and television shows, with a requirement to be home by 8 p.m. each night.

On July 15, 2008, Glendaly Vigoreaux, Echevarría's eldest daughter, died by suicide in Arizona. However, her lawyer raised questions about the cause of her death, suggesting it might have been murder and claiming the investigation was not thorough.