Selena's killer denied parole after decades in prison
Alona Yadav | Mar 29, 2025, 01:15 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Yolanda Saldívar, convicted of murdering Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla-Perez in 1995, has had her bid for parole denied by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Saldívar will remain in prison until at least 2030, while Selena's influential legacy in American music continues to be celebrated.
Nearly 30 years after the shocking murder that stunned the music world, Yolanda Saldívar remains behind bars, her latest bid for freedom rejected by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Saldívar, the former fan club president who fatally shot Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla-Perez on March 31, 1995, will continue serving her life sentence. The three-member parole panel determined that her case will not be reconsidered until 2030, ensuring she remains incarcerated for the foreseeable future.
The tragedy unfolded in a Corpus Christi Days Inn motel, where Selena, just 23 years old and on the cusp of mainstream crossover success, was shot in the back. Motel employees witnessed her collapse in the lobby after being attacked, and she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Saldívar's descent from trusted confidante to murderer was precipitated by financial improprieties. After being fired from managing Selena's clothing boutiques in early March 1995 due to missing funds, she confronted the singer with fatal consequences. During her subsequent trial in Houston, Saldívar claimed the shooting was an accident, testifying that she had intended to kill herself.
On October 23, 1995, a jury convicted Saldívar of first-degree murder, sentencing her to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Despite obtaining a paralegal degree and associate's degree in criminal justice while incarcerated, her multiple appeals have been systematically rejected.
Selena's legacy continues to resonate powerfully in American music history. Known as the "Queen of Tejano," she won a Grammy and achieved remarkable crossover success. Her posthumous album "Dreaming of You" topped the Billboard 200, and she was awarded a posthumous lifetime achievement award by the Grammys in 2021.
Her impact transcends music. More than 50,000 people attended her funeral, and her story was immortalized in the 1997 biopic starring Jennifer Lopez. Selena remains an enduring symbol of Mexican-American cultural achievement, her memory preserved through her groundbreaking musical legacy.
As Saldívar remains confined, Selena's fans continue to celebrate her extraordinary life and transformative musical career, ensuring that her artistic spirit lives on far beyond the tragic circumstances of her untimely death.
Saldívar, the former fan club president who fatally shot Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla-Perez on March 31, 1995, will continue serving her life sentence. The three-member parole panel determined that her case will not be reconsidered until 2030, ensuring she remains incarcerated for the foreseeable future.
The tragedy unfolded in a Corpus Christi Days Inn motel, where Selena, just 23 years old and on the cusp of mainstream crossover success, was shot in the back. Motel employees witnessed her collapse in the lobby after being attacked, and she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Saldívar's descent from trusted confidante to murderer was precipitated by financial improprieties. After being fired from managing Selena's clothing boutiques in early March 1995 due to missing funds, she confronted the singer with fatal consequences. During her subsequent trial in Houston, Saldívar claimed the shooting was an accident, testifying that she had intended to kill herself.
On October 23, 1995, a jury convicted Saldívar of first-degree murder, sentencing her to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Despite obtaining a paralegal degree and associate's degree in criminal justice while incarcerated, her multiple appeals have been systematically rejected.
Selena's legacy continues to resonate powerfully in American music history. Known as the "Queen of Tejano," she won a Grammy and achieved remarkable crossover success. Her posthumous album "Dreaming of You" topped the Billboard 200, and she was awarded a posthumous lifetime achievement award by the Grammys in 2021.
Her impact transcends music. More than 50,000 people attended her funeral, and her story was immortalized in the 1997 biopic starring Jennifer Lopez. Selena remains an enduring symbol of Mexican-American cultural achievement, her memory preserved through her groundbreaking musical legacy.
As Saldívar remains confined, Selena's fans continue to celebrate her extraordinary life and transformative musical career, ensuring that her artistic spirit lives on far beyond the tragic circumstances of her untimely death.