Selena Quintanilla's killer, Yolanda Saldivar, up for parole 30 years after legend's death
Nearly 30 years after Tejano legend Selena Quintanilla-Perez's death, her killer, Yolanda Saldívar, is being considered for parole.
Saldívar, 64, is serving a life sentence for the March 1995 murder. According to Texas Department of Criminal Justice records, she will be eligible for parole on March 30 and is currently undergoing the parole review process.
In a tragedy that shattered Mexican-Americans, Texans, and fans of Tejano music, Saldívar, then 34, fatally shot the star — simply known as Selena to her fans — at a Days Inn Hotel in Corpus Christi on March 31, 1995.
Selena was shot in the upper right back and, after failed life-saving attempts, was pronounced dead from hypovolemic shock at Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital.
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."
At the time, Selena was 23 years old, just weeks shy of her 24th birthday on April 16. She had recently discovered that Saldívar, who had been president of her fan club and managed her clothing boutiques, was embezzling money.
More: 'Selena y Los Dinos' at SXSW reveals Tejano pop icon's family, fame and cultural impact
Saldívar will be eligible for parole for the first time this year. If granted, she would be released to serve the remainder of her sentence in the community under supervision.
If she is denied parole, her next review date will be set for one to five years from the decision date, a spokesperson for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles told the Corpus Christi Times-Caller in an unsigned email. The parole panel would determine the specific number of years.
More: Selena Quintanilla's killer to share never-before-revealed details in new docuseries
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: Will Yolanda Saldívar get out of jail? Selena's killer up for parole
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