Latest news with #TexasBoardofPardonsandParole
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Selena Quintanilla's family after her killer Yolanda Saldívar is denied parole: ‘Justice continues to stand'
Selena Quintanilla's family has spoken out after Yolanda Saldívar, the woman convicted of murdering the budding Tejano music icon 30 years ago, was denied parole. The Mexican-American singer, simply referred to by fans as Selena, was 23 when she was fatally shot in a Texas hotel room on March 31, 1995, by Saldívar, the former president of the superstar's fan club. She was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after serving 30 years. However, on Thursday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole announced in a statement that Saldívar's parole had been denied. 'Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar,' Selena's family said in an Instagram post shared from the 'Amor Prohibido' singer's account. '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 said. Remembering her legacy as 'one of love, music, and inspiration,' they added: '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,' they wrote, thanking 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,' they concluded. Saldívar, a former nurse, founded Selena's fan club and had been the manager of the singer's clothing boutiques, Selena Etc., until she was fired in early March 1995 after money was discovered missing. She later shot and killed Selena during a confrontation in which the singer accused her of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from her businesses. Saldívar, now 64, was convicted of first-degree murder and has been serving out a life sentence at Patrick O'Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas. In 2024, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles began the process of reviewing her parole eligibility, which included compiling a case file, a recommendation letter from Saldívar, an interview with her, and any letters submitted from Selena's family. This was the first time Saldívar had been up for parole since the killing of the 'Queen of Tejano Music.' In explaining the decision to deny parole, the board said in a statement that the panel found that Saldívar continues to pose a threat to public safety. It also said the nature of the crime indicated 'a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others.' Saldívar will be eligible to be reviewed again for parole in 2030.
The Independent
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Selena Quintanilla's family after her killer Yolanda Saldívar is denied parole: ‘Justice continues to stand'
Selena Quintanilla 's family has spoken out after Yolanda Saldívar, the woman convicted of murdering the budding Tejano music icon 30 years ago, was denied parole. The Mexican-American singer, simply referred to by fans as Selena, was 23 when she was fatally shot in a Texas hotel room on March 31, 1995, by Saldívar, the former president of the superstar's fan club. She was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after serving 30 years. However, on Thursday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole announced in a statement that Saldívar's parole had been denied. 'Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar,' Selena's family said in an Instagram post shared from the 'Amor Prohibido' singer's account. '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 said. Remembering her legacy as 'one of love, music, and inspiration,' they added: '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,' they wrote, thanking 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,' they concluded. Saldívar, a former nurse, founded Selena's fan club and had been the manager of the singer's clothing boutiques, Selena Etc., until she was fired in early March 1995 after money was discovered missing. She later shot and killed Selena during a confrontation in which the singer accused her of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from her businesses. Saldívar, now 64, was convicted of first-degree murder and has been serving out a life sentence at Patrick O'Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas. In 2024, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles began the process of reviewing her parole eligibility, which included compiling a case file, a recommendation letter from Saldívar, an interview with her, and any letters submitted from Selena's family. This was the first time Saldívar had been up for parole since the killing of the 'Queen of Tejano Music.' In explaining the decision to deny parole, the board said in a statement that the panel found that Saldívar continues to pose a threat to public safety. It also said the nature of the crime indicated 'a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others.' Saldívar will be eligible to be reviewed again for parole in 2030.
Asharq Al-Awsat
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Latina Star Selena's Killer Denied Parole 30 Years After Murder
A woman sentenced to life in prison for murdering a Mexican-American pop star in a Texas motel was denied parole on Thursday, almost three decades after the killing. Yolanda Saldivar was president of Selena's fan club and had claimed she accidentally shot the singer on March 31, 1995 at a motel room in Corpus Christi, Texas. The 23-year-old star, whose full name was Selena Quintanilla Perez, was wildly popular in the Mexican-American community of Tejano music -- an upbeat mingle of Texan and Mexican sounds -- and on the verge of breaking through to a larger mainstream audience when she was killed. "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 Texas Board of Pardons and Parole said in a statement, according to AFP. According to the board, the decision was based on the "brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of the victim's vulnerability" of the murder, which indicated Saldivar "poses a continuing threat to public safety." The singer's family welcomed the decision. "While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us," her family and widower Chris Perez said in a joint statement. Saldivar, now 64, was a personal assistant to Selena and an employee at her boutique when she fatally shot the star in the back after meeting her at a motel. The singer had reportedly confronted Saldivar about more than 30,000 dollars missing from her fan club and two of her boutiques. Witnesses told police that Selena identified Saldivar as her killer before she collapsed and died. Listed by Billboard magazine as one of the greatest Latin artists of all time, Selena won a Grammy in 1993 and received a posthumous award in 2021. In 2017, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Latina star Selena's killer denied parole 30 years after murder
A woman sentenced to life in prison for murdering a Mexican-American pop star in a Texas motel was denied parole on Thursday, almost three decades after the killing. Yolanda Saldivar was president of Selena's fan club and had claimed she accidentally shot the singer on March 31, 1995 at a motel room in Corpus Christi, Texas. The 23-year-old star, whose full name was Selena Quintanilla Perez, was wildly popular in the Mexican-American community of Tejano music -- an upbeat mingle of Texan and Mexican sounds -- and on the verge of breaking through to a larger mainstream audience when she was killed. "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 Texas Board of Pardons and Parole said in a statement. According to the board, the decision was based on the "brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of the victim's vulnerability" of the murder, which indicated Saldivar "poses a continuing threat to public safety." The singer's family welcomed the decision. "While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us," her family and widower Chris Perez said in a joint statement. Saldivar, now 64, was a personal assistant to Selena and an employee at her boutique when she fatally shot the star in the back after meeting her at a motel. The singer had reportedly confronted Saldivar about more than 30,000 dollars missing from her fan club and two of her boutiques. Witnesses told police that Selena identified Saldivar as her killer before she collapsed and died. Listed by Billboard magazine as one of the greatest Latin artists of all time, Selena won a Grammy in 1993 and received a posthumous award in 2021. In 2017, she was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. mav/mel/cms/jfx
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Selena's Killer Yolanda Saldívar Denied Parole 30 Years After Singer's Death
A board in Texas has denied parole for Yolanda Saldívar, the 64 year-old woman who killed Selena Quintanilla-Perez on March 31 in 1995. Just days away from the 30th anniversary of Quintanilla's death, Saldívar, who fatally shot the Mexican-American music pioneer after a confrontation in a motel in Corpus Christi, was denied parole due to the violent nature of the killing. She will have the opportunity for another parole review in March of 2030, confirmed the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole on Thursday. More from Variety Selena's Killer Yolanda Saldívar Files for Parole, Begins Review Process Selena Quintanilla's Teenage Vocals Get a 2022 Upgrade in 'Moonchild Mixes' Selena Quintanilla Estate Shares New Version of 'Como Te Quiero Yo a Ti,' Reveals Posthumous Album Release Date '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.' Saldívar was the president of Selena's fan club and the manager of her line of boutiques, Selena, Inc., when she shot and killed the singer, was 23 at the time of her death. Saldívar was charged with first-degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Selena continues to impact modern-day pop culture, and most recently was at the center of the Isabel Castro-directed documentary, 'Selena Y Los Dinos,' which premiered at Sundance and SXSW. ''Selena y Los Dinos' delves into the life and enduring impact of Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejano music,' according to the film's official synopsis. 'Through never-before-seen archival footage, personal photographs, and heartfelt interviews, the film paints a vivid portrait of Selena's journey from a young girl in Corpus Christi to an iconic superstar whose voice continues to resonate across generations. Told through the eyes of her devoted family and bandmates, this film reveals the relentless efforts they have made to honor her memory and preserve her legacy. 'Selena y Los Dinos' not only celebrates her remarkable talent but also highlights the resilience and love of a family determined to ensure that Selena's light never fades.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
