Latest news with #Saldívar
CNN
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
On the 30th anniversary of Selena's death, her killer is denied parole
The powerful voice of Tejano music superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is still an indelible staple in Latino households and parties nearly 30 years after her death. The grief that engulfed fans immediately after Selena's life was cut short has morphed over the years into a celebration of the cultural icon every spring on the days leading up to her April birthday. But this year, the memorial is accompanied by a sense of relief as Yolanda Saldívar, the woman who shot and killed Selena in a Texas motel room, was denied her first attempt at parole. 'Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar,' the Quintanilla family and Selena's husband Chris Pérez said in a joint statement shared on their social media platforms. 'While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans around the world far too soon,' they added. Saldívar, 64, is serving a life sentence for the singer's 1995 murder at a prison in Gatesville, Texas, about 100 miles north of Austin. In the weeks leading to the parole board's decision, some fans chatted about Saldivar's potential release while others remained focused on celebrating Selena's life and legacy — much like the singer's family. 'If I am the Selena y Los Dino fan that I say I am, I think that's the most important part. … They (Selena's family) are celebrating her life, and they're celebrating her legacy,' said Stephanie Bergara, a country and Tejano music singer-songwriter and lead singer of the Texas-based Selena tribute band Bidi Bidi Banda. Selena's parents, her sister and band members joined fans and film industry members earlier this month as 'Selena y Los Dinos,' a new documentary about the singer's life, premiered at the South by Southwest festival in Austin. Weeks earlier, the film was screened at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and won the US Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling. 'She's been such an inspiration, especially for Latina women like myself,' Roberta Salas, a fan who attended the screening, told CNN affiliate KEYE. 'She gave us the mentality that we can do anything.' Saldívar came into Selena's life as a fan, later becoming her fan club president and managing some of the singer's clothing boutiques. On March 31, 1995, the 'Queen of Tejano Music' — who was known by her first name — was meeting with Saldívar at a Corpus Christi motel when Saldívar shot her. They were discussing Selena's concerns that Saldívar had embezzled money from her, according to trial testimony. Selena was 23 and her first English-language album was months from release. Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Her case was placed into parole review in recent months based on the amount of time she has served in prison, which began when she was first detained, and because the offense for which she was convicted allowed for parole consideration, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Saldívar was denied parole Thursday after her case was reviewed by a three-member panel, according to the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole. 'After a thorough consideration of all available information, which included any confidential interviews conducted, it was the parole panel's determination to deny parole to Yolanda Saldivar and set her next parole review for March 2030,' the board said in a statement. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles says it considers the offense, 'medical and psychological history, and how the offender has adjusted and behaved in prison.' But the process is not 'cut and dry;' other factors such as public outcry as well as the offender's remorse and accountability are also considered in the decision, said Helen Anne Gaebler, a senior research attorney for the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law at The University of Texas School of Law. 'The parole process — it's not cut and dry. It's very individual. It's very much individually based, and the circumstances play a large role,' Gaebler said. In her experience representing women in the parole review process in Central Texas, Gaebler said she believes there's often a reliance 'on historical factors and not enough attention or focus put on present-day and future-looking factors.' 'For example, we will oftentimes have individuals denied parole over and over because of the nature of the offense. That's one of the bases on which parole can be denied. But that's a static factor that's never going to change,' Gaebler said. In Saldívar's case, the parole board cited the nature of the offense as the reason for their denial. 'The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety,' the parole board said in a statement. In Texas, tens of thousands of cases are reviewed for parole every year, in addition to pardons, medical release requests and revocation of parole. In 2023, 64,785 cases were considered for parole and about 34% were approved, according to an annual statistical report from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Decades after her murder, Selena endures as an icon for her signature looks; a unique sound that blended Tejano, dance-pop and R&B and for putting the Mexican-American experience in the spotlight. Bergara, the tribute band singer, was only 8 when Selena was killed and never got the chance to see her live. Yet the image of Selena on stage, captivating large crowds, is etched into her memory. 'She was the first person who I ever saw on television who looked like she could be related to me,' Bergara said. 'She was immediately so relatable to me and so relatable to people across the world now.' The Selena tribute band, which originally intended to put on a one-time performance, has now toured major cities across the country for more than a decade and seen how the singer's legacy is being passed on through generations. 'We play shows all the time where moms who are my age will show up, and their daughters will show up, and they're dressed like Selena, and they love Selena just as much as their moms did,' Bergara said. Selena continues to captivate audiences, evidenced by her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame awarded in 2018, a Netflix miniseries inspired by her life in 2020, and the launch of a second MAC Cosmetics collection inspired by her the same year. She was also posthumously awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts in 2023 by former President Joe Biden, the highest award given to artists by the federal government. In Corpus Christi, where Selena and her family lived, the iconic singer is memorialized in numerous ways. Fans can visit the Mirador de la Flor memorial and its life-size bronze statue centerpiece, the Selena Museum and the city's auditorium, which was renamed in her memory. Sonya M. Alemán, a professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio, has been teaching a course since 2020 focused on Selena and her lasting impact on society. Her students have interviewed hundreds of Selena fans and learned why she remains a cultural symbol despite generational differences. 'Her legacy has not waned. If anything, it's strengthening,' Alemán said. For those who lived through Selena's life and death, their connection to the singer is clearly defined — they attended concerts and signings, and looked up to her as a trailblazer and a proud Tejana, Aleman explained. For younger fans, many of whom were born at the turn of the century, Selena's music means home. Her songs were a staple in family functions — quinceañeras, carne asadas and family gatherings. 'When they think of Selena, they think of home, they think of family,' Alemán said. For Alemán, Selena's lasting legacy is a testament to the 'resounding and constant need not just to uplift her, but to see ourselves.' 'She's still beloved and she's still a story and person that people want to continue to remember and keep her legacy alive,' Alemán said. 'I also think that it means that the community that she belonged to, that she identified with, is still thirsty for representation.' To fans like Bergara, the celebration of Selena's life that occurs every year surrounding her April 16 birthday should not be overshadowed by developments in Saldívar's case. 'I don't want to give her any attention,' Bergara said. 'I just don't think it's worth it, and what we should be focusing on is 30 years of Selena, 30 years of her iconic life being celebrated.' The Quintanilla family and her husband said after Saldívar's parole was denied that Selena 'lived with joy, gave selflessly, and continues to uplift generations with her voice and her spirit' and called on fans to remember that. 'We will continue to celebrate Selena's life — not the tragedy that took her from us — and we ask that all who cherish her do the same,' they said.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
On the 30th anniversary of Selena's death, her killer is denied parole
The powerful voice of Tejano music superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is still an indelible staple in Latino households and parties nearly 30 years after her death. The grief that engulfed fans immediately after Selena's life was cut short has morphed over the years into a celebration of the cultural icon every spring on the days leading up to her April birthday. But this year, the memorial is accompanied by a sense of relief as Yolanda Saldívar, the woman who shot and killed Selena in a Texas motel room, was denied her first attempt at parole. 'Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar,' the Quintanilla family and Selena's husband Chris Pérez said in a joint statement shared on their social media platforms. 'While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans around the world far too soon,' they added. Saldívar, 64, is serving a life sentence for the singer's 1995 murder at a prison in Gatesville, Texas, about 100 miles north of Austin. In the weeks leading to the parole board's decision, some fans chatted about Saldivar's potential release while others remained focused on celebrating Selena's life and legacy — much like the singer's family. 'If I am the Selena y Los Dino fan that I say I am, I think that's the most important part. … They (Selena's family) are celebrating her life, and they're celebrating her legacy,' said Stephanie Bergara, a country and Tejano music singer-songwriter and lead singer of the Texas-based Selena tribute band Bidi Bidi Banda. Selena's parents, her sister and band members joined fans and film industry members earlier this month as 'Selena y Los Dinos,' a new documentary about the singer's life, premiered at the South by Southwest festival in Austin. Weeks earlier, the film was screened at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and won the US Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling. 'She's been such an inspiration, especially for Latina women like myself,' Roberta Salas, a fan who attended the screening, told CNN affiliate KEYE. 'She gave us the mentality that we can do anything.' Saldívar came into Selena's life as a fan, later becoming her fan club president and managing some of the singer's clothing boutiques. On March 31, 1995, the 'Queen of Tejano Music' — who was known by her first name — was meeting with Saldívar at a Corpus Christi motel when Saldívar shot her. They were discussing Selena's concerns that Saldívar had embezzled money from her, according to trial testimony. Selena was 23 and her first English-language album was months from release. Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Her case was placed into parole review in recent months based on the amount of time she has served in prison, which began when she was first detained, and because the offense for which she was convicted allowed for parole consideration, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Saldívar was denied parole Thursday after her case was reviewed by a three-member panel, according to the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole. 'After a thorough consideration of all available information, which included any confidential interviews conducted, it was the parole panel's determination to deny parole to Yolanda Saldivar and set her next parole review for March 2030,' the board said in a statement. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles says it considers the offense, 'medical and psychological history, and how the offender has adjusted and behaved in prison.' But the process is not 'cut and dry;' other factors such as public outcry as well as the offender's remorse and accountability are also considered in the decision, said Helen Anne Gaebler, a senior research attorney for the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law at The University of Texas School of Law. 'The parole process — it's not cut and dry. It's very individual. It's very much individually based, and the circumstances play a large role,' Gaebler said. In her experience representing women in the parole review process in Central Texas, Gaebler said she believes there's often a reliance 'on historical factors and not enough attention or focus put on present-day and future-looking factors.' 'For example, we will oftentimes have individuals denied parole over and over because of the nature of the offense. That's one of the bases on which parole can be denied. But that's a static factor that's never going to change,' Gaebler said. In Saldívar's case, the parole board cited the nature of the offense as the reason for their denial. 'The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety,' the parole board said in a statement. In Texas, tens of thousands of cases are reviewed for parole every year, in addition to pardons, medical release requests and revocation of parole. In 2023, 64,785 cases were considered for parole and about 34% were approved, according to an annual statistical report from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Decades after her murder, Selena endures as an icon for her signature looks; a unique sound that blended Tejano, dance-pop and R&B and for putting the Mexican-American experience in the spotlight. Bergara, the tribute band singer, was only 8 when Selena was killed and never got the chance to see her live. Yet the image of Selena on stage, captivating large crowds, is etched into her memory. 'She was the first person who I ever saw on television who looked like she could be related to me,' Bergara said. 'She was immediately so relatable to me and so relatable to people across the world now.' The Selena tribute band, which originally intended to put on a one-time performance, has now toured major cities across the country for more than a decade and seen how the singer's legacy is being passed on through generations. 'We play shows all the time where moms who are my age will show up, and their daughters will show up, and they're dressed like Selena, and they love Selena just as much as their moms did,' Bergara said. Selena continues to captivate audiences, evidenced by her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame awarded in 2018, a Netflix miniseries inspired by her life in 2020, and the launch of a second MAC Cosmetics collection inspired by her the same year. She was also posthumously awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts in 2023 by former President Joe Biden, the highest award given to artists by the federal government. In Corpus Christi, where Selena and her family lived, the iconic singer is memorialized in numerous ways. Fans can visit the Mirador de la Flor memorial and its life-size bronze statue centerpiece, the Selena Museum and the city's auditorium, which was renamed in her memory. Sonya M. Alemán, a professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio, has been teaching a course since 2020 focused on Selena and her lasting impact on society. Her students have interviewed hundreds of Selena fans and learned why she remains a cultural symbol despite generational differences. 'Her legacy has not waned. If anything, it's strengthening,' Alemán said. For those who lived through Selena's life and death, their connection to the singer is clearly defined — they attended concerts and signings, and looked up to her as a trailblazer and a proud Tejana, Aleman explained. For younger fans, many of whom were born at the turn of the century, Selena's music means home. Her songs were a staple in family functions — quinceañeras, carne asadas and family gatherings. 'When they think of Selena, they think of home, they think of family,' Alemán said. For Alemán, Selena's lasting legacy is a testament to the 'resounding and constant need not just to uplift her, but to see ourselves.' 'She's still beloved and she's still a story and person that people want to continue to remember and keep her legacy alive,' Alemán said. 'I also think that it means that the community that she belonged to, that she identified with, is still thirsty for representation.' To fans like Bergara, the celebration of Selena's life that occurs every year surrounding her April 16 birthday should not be overshadowed by developments in Saldívar's case. 'I don't want to give her any attention,' Bergara said. 'I just don't think it's worth it, and what we should be focusing on is 30 years of Selena, 30 years of her iconic life being celebrated.' The Quintanilla family and her husband said after Saldívar's parole was denied that Selena 'lived with joy, gave selflessly, and continues to uplift generations with her voice and her spirit' and called on fans to remember that. 'We will continue to celebrate Selena's life — not the tragedy that took her from us — and we ask that all who cherish her do the same,' they said.
CNN
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
On the 30th anniversary of Selena's death, her killer is denied parole
The powerful voice of Tejano music superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is still an indelible staple in Latino households and parties nearly 30 years after her death. The grief that engulfed fans immediately after Selena's life was cut short has morphed over the years into a celebration of the cultural icon every spring on the days leading up to her April birthday. But this year, the memorial is accompanied by a sense of relief as Yolanda Saldívar, the woman who shot and killed Selena in a Texas motel room, was denied her first attempt at parole. 'Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar,' the Quintanilla family and Selena's husband Chris Pérez said in a joint statement shared on their social media platforms. 'While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans around the world far too soon,' they added. Saldívar, 64, is serving a life sentence for the singer's 1995 murder at a prison in Gatesville, Texas, about 100 miles north of Austin. In the weeks leading to the parole board's decision, some fans chatted about Saldivar's potential release while others remained focused on celebrating Selena's life and legacy — much like the singer's family. 'If I am the Selena y Los Dino fan that I say I am, I think that's the most important part. … They (Selena's family) are celebrating her life, and they're celebrating her legacy,' said Stephanie Bergara, a country and Tejano music singer-songwriter and lead singer of the Texas-based Selena tribute band Bidi Bidi Banda. Selena's parents, her sister and band members joined fans and film industry members earlier this month as 'Selena y Los Dinos,' a new documentary about the singer's life, premiered at the South by Southwest festival in Austin. Weeks earlier, the film was screened at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and won the US Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling. 'She's been such an inspiration, especially for Latina women like myself,' Roberta Salas, a fan who attended the screening, told CNN affiliate KEYE. 'She gave us the mentality that we can do anything.' Saldívar came into Selena's life as a fan, later becoming her fan club president and managing some of the singer's clothing boutiques. On March 31, 1995, the 'Queen of Tejano Music' — who was known by her first name — was meeting with Saldívar at a Corpus Christi motel when Saldívar shot her. They were discussing Selena's concerns that Saldívar had embezzled money from her, according to trial testimony. Selena was 23 and her first English-language album was months from release. Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Her case was placed into parole review in recent months based on the amount of time she has served in prison, which began when she was first detained, and because the offense for which she was convicted allowed for parole consideration, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Saldívar was denied parole Thursday after her case was reviewed by a three-member panel, according to the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole. 'After a thorough consideration of all available information, which included any confidential interviews conducted, it was the parole panel's determination to deny parole to Yolanda Saldivar and set her next parole review for March 2030,' the board said in a statement. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles says it considers the offense, 'medical and psychological history, and how the offender has adjusted and behaved in prison.' But the process is not 'cut and dry;' other factors such as public outcry as well as the offender's remorse and accountability are also considered in the decision, said Helen Anne Gaebler, a senior research attorney for the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law at The University of Texas School of Law. 'The parole process — it's not cut and dry. It's very individual. It's very much individually based, and the circumstances play a large role,' Gaebler said. In her experience representing women in the parole review process in Central Texas, Gaebler said she believes there's often a reliance 'on historical factors and not enough attention or focus put on present-day and future-looking factors.' 'For example, we will oftentimes have individuals denied parole over and over because of the nature of the offense. That's one of the bases on which parole can be denied. But that's a static factor that's never going to change,' Gaebler said. In Saldívar's case, the parole board cited the nature of the offense as the reason for their denial. 'The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety,' the parole board said in a statement. In Texas, tens of thousands of cases are reviewed for parole every year, in addition to pardons, medical release requests and revocation of parole. In 2023, 64,785 cases were considered for parole and about 34% were approved, according to an annual statistical report from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Decades after her murder, Selena endures as an icon for her signature looks; a unique sound that blended Tejano, dance-pop and R&B and for putting the Mexican-American experience in the spotlight. Bergara, the tribute band singer, was only 8 when Selena was killed and never got the chance to see her live. Yet the image of Selena on stage, captivating large crowds, is etched into her memory. 'She was the first person who I ever saw on television who looked like she could be related to me,' Bergara said. 'She was immediately so relatable to me and so relatable to people across the world now.' The Selena tribute band, which originally intended to put on a one-time performance, has now toured major cities across the country for more than a decade and seen how the singer's legacy is being passed on through generations. 'We play shows all the time where moms who are my age will show up, and their daughters will show up, and they're dressed like Selena, and they love Selena just as much as their moms did,' Bergara said. Selena continues to captivate audiences, evidenced by her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame awarded in 2018, a Netflix miniseries inspired by her life in 2020, and the launch of a second MAC Cosmetics collection inspired by her the same year. She was also posthumously awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts in 2023 by former President Joe Biden, the highest award given to artists by the federal government. In Corpus Christi, where Selena and her family lived, the iconic singer is memorialized in numerous ways. Fans can visit the Mirador de la Flor memorial and its life-size bronze statue centerpiece, the Selena Museum and the city's auditorium, which was renamed in her memory. Sonya M. Alemán, a professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio, has been teaching a course since 2020 focused on Selena and her lasting impact on society. Her students have interviewed hundreds of Selena fans and learned why she remains a cultural symbol despite generational differences. 'Her legacy has not waned. If anything, it's strengthening,' Alemán said. For those who lived through Selena's life and death, their connection to the singer is clearly defined — they attended concerts and signings, and looked up to her as a trailblazer and a proud Tejana, Aleman explained. For younger fans, many of whom were born at the turn of the century, Selena's music means home. Her songs were a staple in family functions — quinceañeras, carne asadas and family gatherings. 'When they think of Selena, they think of home, they think of family,' Alemán said. For Alemán, Selena's lasting legacy is a testament to the 'resounding and constant need not just to uplift her, but to see ourselves.' 'She's still beloved and she's still a story and person that people want to continue to remember and keep her legacy alive,' Alemán said. 'I also think that it means that the community that she belonged to, that she identified with, is still thirsty for representation.' To fans like Bergara, the celebration of Selena's life that occurs every year surrounding her April 16 birthday should not be overshadowed by developments in Saldívar's case. 'I don't want to give her any attention,' Bergara said. 'I just don't think it's worth it, and what we should be focusing on is 30 years of Selena, 30 years of her iconic life being celebrated.' The Quintanilla family and her husband said after Saldívar's parole was denied that Selena 'lived with joy, gave selflessly, and continues to uplift generations with her voice and her spirit' and called on fans to remember that. 'We will continue to celebrate Selena's life — not the tragedy that took her from us — and we ask that all who cherish her do the same,' they said.
NBC News
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Selena forever: Anniversary of shooting and killer's parole denial stir singer's enduring fandom
In the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, fans had gotten together to celebrate the singer's life for the 10th annual 214Selena festivities. 'We're just celebrating that legacy, taking the time to hold space for all of those who connect with that Tejano identity,' singer and Selena fan Esti Romero told NBC Dallas. Selena's fandom has transformed throughout the years, starting with people like Alemán, who grew up seeing the late singer perform live in south Texas. For them, Selena is a cultural marker for Mexican Americans and Latinos who came of age in the early 1990s. Through her music and fashion sense, many saw their own bicultural experiences reflected in Selena's life story. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez became a shining star in the male-dominated genre of Tejano music, winning a Grammy in 1994 and becoming a crossover Latina icon singing in both English and Spanish. But then Selena gained a ton of new fans of all ages, including Susan, when the singer's eponymous biopic was released in 1997. Not only did the movie help catapult career, it also introduced many to the story of Selena's life and the tragic events around her death. 'That is the first memory that I have of Selena. It's actually seeing her movie in the theater when I was in seventh grade,' Susan said. Perhaps that explains why Leila Cobo, chief content officer of Latin and Spanish music at Billboard, says Selena is one of the top five Latin female artists on the charts every year, remaining a pillar of Latin music history in the U.S. and globally. Anticipation over Saldívar's eligibility for parole this week had been building over the past year following the release of a controversial docuseries in which Saldívar claimed she did not intentionally kill Selena. In a statement, the parole board said it believed, based on the evidence provided to it, that Saldívar still posed 'a continuing threat to public safety.' Alemán explained that for Selena's fans, her death 'has risen into this level of collective injustice, a collective grief. In the eyes of those who love her so dearly, what happened was so unjust.' When it comes to Saldívar, 'there's never going to be a point in which she is done paying for this sin that she committed,' Alemán said. The Quintanilla family and Chris Pérez, Selena's husband, thanked Selena's fans 'for their unwavering support throughout the years' in a joint statement following Saldívar's parole denial. 'Your love has been a source of strength and healing.' 'Selena's legacy is one of love, music, and inspiration. She lived with joy, gave selflessly, and continues to uplift generations with her voice and her spirit,' the statement reads. 'We will continue to celebrate Selena's life — not the tragedy that took her from us — and we ask that all who cherish her do the same.' In her college class, Alemán is helping foster a newer generation of Selena fans who are creating a body of academic work and archives full of stories and memories of the Queen of Tejano music. 'The knowledge that the community carries about who she is, why she matters to them, is worth studying,' Alemán said.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Selena's family says decision to deny her killer parole 'reaffirms that justice continues to stand'
Selena's family is "grateful" that the young singer's killer, Yolanda Saldívar, was denied parole Thursday in Texas. Saldívar, 64, is serving a life sentence for the March 31, 1995, murder that took place at a Corpus Christi hotel after the singer, whose last name was Quintanilla-Pérez, accused friend Saldívar of embezzling $30,000. The older woman had been president of the Selena fan club and manager of the singer's Selena Etc. boutiques. Read more: In 'Selena y Los Dinos,' we see the Tejano queen through the eyes of her sister The Quintanilla family and Chris Pérez, the guitarist who secretly married Selena in 1992, seemed pleased with the decision to deny parole, writing on social media, "Today, we are grateful." They said they were celebrating Selena's life, rather than remembering her murder. The parole board said in documents obtained Thursday by The Times that the killing had 'elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety." "While nothing can bring Selena back," the family continued, "this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans around the world far too soon." Saldívar's case is eligible for another parole review — in Texas, a comprehensive evaluation involving interviews and behavioral reviews — in 2030. Read more: Selena's killer is denied parole 30 years after shooting Latin superstar "Selena's legacy is one of love, music, and inspiration. She lived with joy, gave selflessly, and continues to uplift generations with her voice and her spirit," the Quintanillas and Pérez wrote. "As her family and loved ones, we remain committed to preserving her memory and ensuring that her story is honored with the dignity and respect it deserves." Fans' support, they said, had been a source of strength and healing over the years. The Tejana pop superstar was about to record her first English-language crossover album when she was shot in the back by Saldívar at a Corpus Christi Days Inn. "Dreaming of You" was released posthumously in July 1995. Jennifer Lopez starred in "Selena," the 1997 film about the singer, and in 2020, Netflix debuted "Selena: The Series," a two-season, 18-episode series looking at her rise to fame with the family band, Los Dinos, and her murder. Read more: Johnny Canales, Tejano legend who helped launch the career of Selena Quintanilla, dies at 77 In 2024, the Oxygen network released "Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them,' a two-part documentary incorporating Saldívar's version of events. The latter was done without the family's OK. Most recently, the documentary "Selena y Los Dinos," featuring home movies shot by older sister Suzette Quintanilla, impressed audiences at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Selena fans weren't happy about "Selena & Yolanda." 'It's very clear to me that [the filmmakers are] giving a lot of weight to Yolanda's allegations," "Anything for Selena" podcast host Maria Elena Garcia told The Times in 2024. referencing promotions for the documentary. "Empty allegations that she has been making for literally decades. To me, that's incredibly irresponsible, unethical and, frankly, just distasteful.' Earlier this month, a Saldívar family member told the New York Post that Saldívar knows what she did was wrong but maintains that Selena came at her "really aggressively." "She was so thrown off with how forceful Selena was being; everything happened so fast," the family member said. "If Selena had confronted her differently, this never would have happened.' Read more: Remember This Banger: Selena's 'Dreaming of You' Saldívar's defense team alleged at trial in October 1995 that she shot Selena by accident and that Corpus Christi police who questioned her never mentioned that claim. During a nine-hour standoff at the hotel where Selena was shot, Saldívar told police negotiators that she told the singer she had bought a .38-caliber revolver to kill herself, the Associated Press reported in 1995. 'She told me: 'Yolanda, I don't want you to kill yourself.' She opened the door. When I told her to close it, the gun went off,' Saldívar said. The taped conversation was played at trial. Saldívar did not testify at trial after a judge denied a request that she testify only about her interactions with police. However, several hotel employees testified that they saw a calm Saldívar with the gun pursuing a screaming, bleeding Selena, the AP said. Times staff writer Clara Harter contributed to this report. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
