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Yolanda Saldívar, Killer of Tejano Star Selena, Denied Parole
Yolanda Saldívar, the woman serving a life sentence for the 1995 slaying of Tejano music legend Selena, has been refused parole, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles announced Thursday. The decision means Saldívar will remain incarcerated for the murder of Selena Quintanilla Pérez, the acclaimed “Queen of Tejano” music, who was fatally shot at a Corpus Christi motel almost three decades ago.
Parole Board Rejects Release
Saldívar, convicted of fatally shooting Selena at a Days Inn in Corpus Christi on March 31, 1995, became eligible for parole after serving 30 years. Her earliest possible release date was set for March 30 of this year.
The Board of Pardons and Paroles stated, “Following a comprehensive review of all available information, including confidential interviews, the parole panel reached a determination to deny parole for Yolanda Saldivar. Her next parole review is scheduled for March 2030.”
Relationship and Betrayal
Prior to the tragic events, Saldívar held positions of trust within Selena’s professional circle. She served as president of Selena’s fan club and managed two of the singer’s clothing boutiques. However, Selena’s family dismissed Saldívar in early 1995 amid accusations of embezzlement from both the fan club and the boutiques.
Details of the Shooting
Court documents detail the events of the murder. Selena was shot in the back by Saldívar, who then pursued the singer as she fled to the motel lobby before collapsing. Saldívar subsequently barricaded herself in a truck outside the motel, threatening suicide. Motel employees reported that Selena identified Saldívar as her assailant before losing consciousness.
Legal Proceedings and Trial
In October 1995, a jury found Saldívar guilty of first-degree murder. She received a life sentence with the possibility of parole, a possibility now denied.
Throughout her trial, Saldívar maintained that the shooting was unintentional. She claimed to have purchased the .38-caliber revolver with the intent of taking her own life, asserting that the weapon discharged accidentally, striking Selena.
Selena’s Enduring Legacy
Selena achieved phenomenal success in the music industry. Her hit songs, including “Dreaming Of You,” reached remarkable milestones, with “Dreaming Of You” climbing to number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995, the year of her death. She also garnered five No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Tracks, including “No Me Queda Mas,” and secured a Grammy Award in 1994 for Best Mexican-American Album for “Live.”
Her impactful life story was depicted in the 1997 film “Selena,” starring Jennifer Lopez, further solidifying her place in popular culture.
Saldívar’s Recent Statements and Parole Petition
In a 2024 Oxygen docuseries, “Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them,” Saldívar offered her perspective on the killing. She refuted claims of embezzlement and alleged, without substantiation, that she was covering up an extramarital affair involving Selena. The documentary sparked outrage among fans even before its release.
Saldívar submitted a petition for parole in January, initiating the review process.
Parole Board Decision Rationale
The board prepared a comprehensive file containing court documents and other pertinent materials, which was then presented to a three-person parole panel. A simple majority vote was required for parole approval. The board’s statement did not reveal the specific vote count but detailed the reasoning behind the denial.
According to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, “The panel’s reason for denial cited the Nature of the Offense: The record indicates that the instant offense exhibits elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior, or conscious selection of victim vulnerability, demonstrating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender continues to pose a threat to public safety.”