HOUSTON — A Texas parole board announced Thursday that the woman convicted of murdering Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla-Pérez has been denied parole. She will continue to serve her life sentence for the fatal shooting of the young singer at a motel in 1995.
Yolanda Saldívar, aged 64, is seeking parole for the first time following the tragic death of the beloved singer, known to her fans as Selena.
Selena, a pioneering Mexican American artist, made significant strides in the mainstream music scene, breaking barriers for women in Latin music. At just 23 years old, she was poised to make her mark in the world of English-language pop music when tragedy struck, leading to her untimely death.
The family of the singer, along with her widower Chris Pérez, conveyed their appreciation to the Texas Board of Pardon and Paroles.
“Although Selena cannot be brought back, this decision reinforces that justice remains for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans worldwide far too soon,” they stated in a social media post.
The board’s statement regarding the denial of parole highlighted that the panel determined Saldívar remains a threat to public safety. The statement highlighted that the nature of the crime demonstrated “a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others.”
Saldívar, currently incarcerated in a Gatesville prison, is set to be eligible for another parole review in 2030.
Saldívar established Selena’s fan club and managed the singer’s clothing boutiques, Selena Etc., until her termination in early March 1995, following the discovery of missing funds.
On March 31, 1995, Selena, hailing from Corpus Christi, was tragically shot in the back with a .38-caliber revolver at a Days Inn motel located in Corpus Christi. After making her way to the motel lobby, she collapsed and was later pronounced dead at a hospital just an hour later.
Motel staff provided testimony indicating that Selena identified “Yolanda” in “room 158” as the person who attacked her.
“I never intended for that to happen.” “I didn’t mean to kill anybody,” a tearful Saldívar stated amid a lengthy nine-hour standoff with law enforcement. She informed the officers that she had purchased the .38-caliber revolver with the intention of taking her own life.
On April 2, 1995, over 50,000 individuals gathered to pay their respects as Selena’s body was displayed prior to her burial at Seaside Memorial Park. This poignant moment occurred just 13 days before what would have been her 24th birthday.
The trial of Saldívar has been relocated to Houston due to the extensive media coverage surrounding the case. Saldívar stated that her intention was to take her own life during the encounter with Selena, but the firearm failed to discharge.
On October 23, 1995, a jury found Saldívar guilty of first-degree murder. A life sentence has been handed down, with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
During her time in prison, Saldívar, who previously worked as a nurse, earned both her paralegal certification and an associate degree in criminal justice. She has submitted multiple civil rights complaints claiming mistreatment by the state’s prison system, as indicated in court records, and she has also assisted other inmates in filing petitions.
According to court documents from 2016, Saldívar reported that she was placed in protective custody, indicating that she was separated from other inmates. This decision was made by prison officials who expressed concerns for her safety due to the high-profile nature of her case. Multiple appeals against her conviction were submitted, yet all were denied.
Selena, often referred to as “the Queen of Tejano,” achieved remarkable fame and secured a Grammy amidst the Tejano music surge in the early 1990s. Some of her most popular songs are “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Como la Flor,” “Amor Prohibido,” “No Me Queda Mas,” and “Tu Solo Tu.”
She paved the way for a new wave of contemporary artists of Latin descent, who would achieve significant popularity with mainstream American audiences. Her performances frequently featured Spanish songs, while her conversations were in English, showcasing a blend of cultures that connected deeply with her audience.
Dreaming of You, the English-language crossover album released shortly after her passing, soared to the top of the Billboard 200 and included the popular tracks “I Could Fall in Love” and “Dreaming of You.”
In the 1997 biopic “Selena,” Jennifer Lopez took on the role of the iconic singer.
In 2021, the Grammys honoured Selena with a posthumous lifetime achievement award.
