Latest news with #Selena&Yolanda:TheSecretsBetweenThem
Los Angeles Times
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
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. 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. '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. 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.' 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.
Fox News
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Selena Quintanilla's killer, Yolanda Saldívar, denied parole
Music icon Selena Quintanilla-Pérez's killer, Yolanda Saldívar, was denied parole by Texas' parole board Thursday. Saldívar has been serving a life sentence in Texas for the past three decades. This was the first time she was up for parole since her sentencing. Selena's widower, Chris Pérez, shared a lengthy statement to Instagram after the ruling, saying he was "grateful" the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied Saldívar parole and is committed to preserving Selena's legacy. Chris said the 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. "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. 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," Chris added. "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." "We thank Selena's fans for their unwavering support throughout the years. Your love has been a source of strength and healing. 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." Saldívar would have become eligible for parole March 30. A family member of Saldívar's told the Post, "She has a place to live. We have never forsaken her. But I don't know where she's going to get a job. Who will hire her?" The outlet also previously spoke with inmates at the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas, where Saldívar is being held, who said she has been housed in protective custody due to being a heavy target among inmates. "Everyone knows who Yolanda Saldívar is," Marisol Lopez, who served time alongside her from 2017 to 2022, told the outlet. "There's a bounty on her head. Like, everyone wants a piece of her. The guards keep her away from everyone else because she's hated so much. If she were out [in general population], someone would try to take her down." Saldívar fatally shot Quintanilla-Pérez, known simply as Selena, March 31, 1995, after the Latin pop star discovered Saldívar had embezzled a reported $30,000 from her clothing boutiques. Saldívar still denies ever stealing from the pop star. In February 2024, Saldívar sat down for a new prison interview featured in an Oxygen docuseries, "Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them." During the docuseries, Saldívar claimed she had no intention of killing Quintanilla-Pérez. Instead, she insisted she wanted to end her own life. However, in a series of unfortunate events, the gun allegedly went off and hit the 23-year-old instead. "It startled me," Saldívar said. "I did not know my gun went off. I did not know that it hit her. It scared her, it scared me. There was never ever any intention to do her any harm. "My decisions were my decisions, and the consequences were also mine," she said. "I'm regretful for all of that. If I could turn back time, if I could turn the clock, I think a lot of things wouldn't be as they [are]. And I want the people to know I miss Selena just like they do. So much. But I know I will see her again in heaven. I know I will. She didn't deserve to die. "I am so sorry that she's gone," said Saldívar. "I'm so sorry that her family is hurting. And I'm so sorry that my family is hurt. At no point did I mean to hurt anyone." Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder Oct. 23, 1995.
Fox News
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez's killer claims late singer partially responsible for her own death: report
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez's killer, Yolanda Saldívar, is eligible for parole at the end of this month, and a family member is sharing new details from Saldívar. In an interview with The New York Post, an unnamed member of Saldívar's family said, "[Yolanda] knows what she did was wrong and she takes responsibility for it. But she was reacting to the way she was confronted." According to the family member, Saldívar says, "[Selena] came at her really aggressively. She was so thrown off with how forceful Selena was being; everything happened so fast. If Selena had confronted her differently, this never would have happened." Representatives for the Quintanilla family and Selena's husband, Chris Pérez, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Saldívar fatally shot Quintanilla-Pérez, better known as simply Selena, on March 31, 1995, after the Latin pop star discovered she had embezzled a reported $30,000 from her clothing boutiques. She still denies ever stealing from the pop star. In February 2024, Saldívar sat down for a new prison interview featured in an Oxygen docuseries, "Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them." During the docuseries, Saldívar claims she had no intention of killing Quintanilla-Pérez, but instead, she insisted she wanted to end her own life. However, in a series of unfortunate events, the gun allegedly went off and hit the 23-year-old instead. "It startled me," Saldívar said. "I did not know my gun went off. I did not know that it hit her. It scared her, it scared me. There was never ever any intention to do her any harm." "My decisions were my decisions, and the consequences were also mine," she said. "I'm regretful for all of that. If I could turn back time, if I could turn the clock, I think a lot of things wouldn't be as they [are]. And I want the people to know I miss Selena just like they do. So much. But I know I will see her again in heaven. I know I will. She didn't deserve to die." "I am so sorry that she's gone," said Saldívar. "I'm so sorry that her family is hurting. And I'm so sorry that my family is hurt. At no point did I mean to hurt anyone." The documentary sparked backlash at the time of its release from fans and the singer's family. Her father, Abraham Quintanilla, told TMZ that the documentary contained "nothing but lies." "No one's gonna believe what she has to say anyway," the Quintanilla patriarch told the outlet at the time of its release. "Everyone knows there's zero truth to anything that comes out of her mouth." In the documentary, Saldívar said she had been "convicted by public opinion" before her trial. Saldívar filed for parole, and according to a representative for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, is currently in the parole review process. Her eligibility date is March 30, 2025. Her family member told The Post, "She has a place to live. We have never forsaken her. But I don't know where she's going to get a job. Who will hire her?" The outlet also previously spoke with inmates at the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas - where Saldívar is being held - who said she has been housed in protective custody due to being a heavy target among inmates. "Everyone knows who Yolanda Saldívar is," Marisol Lopez, who served time alongside her from 2017 to 2022, told the outlet. "There's a bounty on her head, like everyone wants a piece of her. The guards keep her away from everyone else, because she's hated so much. If she were out [in general population], someone would try to take her down."
