Yolanda Saldívar denied parole for death of Tejano legend Selena Quintanilla 30 years ago

Yahoo

28-03-2025

Yolanda Saldívar, who has spent nearly 30 years behind bars for the murder of Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla-Pérez — known simply as "Selena" — will remain in jail following a recent parole review.
A three-member panel of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied Saldívar's release Thursday, citing concerns that she still poses a threat to public safety. The board also noted that the nature of the crime demonstrated "a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others," according to NPR.
The decision comes just days before the 30-year mark since the fatal shooting of the young music icon outside of a Days Inn Hotel in Corpus Christi in a tragedy that devastated millions of Latinos, Texans and Tejano music fans.
Selena was one of the first Mexican-American artists to break into the mainstream music scene and was on the verge of crossing over into the English-language pop market at the time of her death.
Although the decision means the 64-year-old will continue serving a life sentence at a prison in Gatesville, her case will be eligible for parole review again in 2030.
Saldívar was 34 at the time of Selena's death. She had been president of the Selena fan club and managed Selena's clothing boutique.
Selena was pronounced dead from hypovolemic shock at Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital on March 31, 1995.
She was 23 years old and just less than three weeks away from her 24th birthday on April 16, the Austin-American Statesman previously reported.
The events leading to Selena's tragic death began when her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., discovered that Saldívar had been embezzling money from the Selena projects she managed. Fans had begun sending letters and emails complaining that they had paid enrollment fees but received nothing in return.
After an investigation, Quintanilla uncovered that Saldívar had used forged checks to embezzle $30,000 through the fan club and boutiques.
On March 9, 1995, the Quintanilla family held a meeting to discuss the missing funds. Unable to convince her of her innocence, Saldívar was banned from contacting Selena the following day. She then purchased a gun, lying to the clerk by claiming she was a nurse whose patients' relatives had threatened her life.
Weeks later, the day of Selena's death, Saldívar convinced Selena to meet her alone in the hotel room. Selena emptied Saldívar's satchel, which contained documents related to the boutiques and the fan club, as well the .38 revolver. Saldívar then grabbed the gun and pointed it at Selena, who attempted to flee.
Saldívar shot Selena as she was running away, with the bullet entering her upper back near her shoulder and passing through her chest cavity, severing an artery and causing Selena to go into cardiac arrest.
For more than two decades, rumors circulated that her father, Abraham Quintanilla, had refused the transfusion due to his affiliation with the Jehovah's Witness religion. However, he told Corpus Christi station 3 News in 2021 that this claim was false.
"Selena was given blood by the doctor. When she arrived at the hospital at the emergency room after she was shot," Quintanilla told the news organization, adding that he had also retrieved all transcripts of Saldívar's trial and "the doctor testified that when Selena came in, when they brought her in, she was dead already. She had bled to death, but he knew who she was and as a last resort he gave her blood to see if something would happen."
More: 'Selena y Los Dinos' at SXSW reveals Tejano pop icon's family, fame and cultural impact
Born and raised in Texas, Selena was a beloved Tejano musician who was named Female Vocalist of the Year at the 1986 Tejano Music Awards, a title she earned 11 times in total, including several posthumously. She ranks second only to Elida Reyna, who claimed the title 13 times between 2000 and 2019.
In 1994, Selena won the Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album. Songs like "Como La Flor," "I Could Fall In Love," and her signature hit, "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," endeared her music to both Spanish and English-speaking audiences, stamping her success as a crossover star.
In 2001, Selena was posthumously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2010, at the 30th Anniversary Tejano Music Awards, she was named Female Vocalist of the 1980s and Female Vocalist of the 1990s.
With her success in pop culture and her philanthropic efforts in the community, Selena has become a significant inspiration for young girls and women, championing confidence and empowerment. From Halloween costumes to Selena-themed trivia and parties, her legacy continues to influence new generations, keeping her spirit alive.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas denies Yolanda Saldívar parole. When did Selena die?