Woman who killed singer Selena in 1995 denied parole

The Texas Board of Pardon and Paroles recently announced that Yolanda Saldívar, the woman convicted of killing Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, has been denied parole and will continue serving a life sentence for the fatal shooting that occurred at a Texas motel in 1995. This decision marks the first time Saldívar was up for parole since the tragic incident.

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, known simply as Selena to her fans, was a trailblazing Mexican American artist who broke barriers for women in Latin music. At just 23 years old, she was on the cusp of crossing over into English-language pop superstardom when her life was cut short.

The singer’s family and her widower, Chris Pérez, expressed gratitude for the parole board’s decision. They stated that while nothing can bring Selena back, the denial of parole reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken too soon.

In its statement explaining the denial of parole, the board cited Saldívar’s ongoing threat to public safety and her conscious disregard for the lives of others as factors in the decision. Saldívar, who is currently serving her sentence in a Gatesville prison, will have the opportunity to be reviewed for parole again in 2030.

Saldívar was the founder of Selena’s fan club and the manager of the singer’s clothing boutiques, Selena Etc., until she was dismissed in early 1995 after discrepancies in the finances were discovered. The fatal shooting took place at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi on March 31, 1995, where Selena was shot in the back with a .38-caliber revolver.

Following the tragic incident, more than 50,000 people paid their respects to Selena as they lined up to view her body before she was laid to rest in Seaside Memorial Park on April 3, 1995. Saldívar’s trial took place in Houston, where she testified that she had intended to harm herself but the gun misfired during the confrontation with Selena. She was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

During her time in prison, Saldívar pursued education, obtaining a paralegal and associate degree in criminal justice. She filed civil rights complaints against the prison system and assisted other inmates with legal petitions. Despite multiple appeals, her conviction remained unchanged.

Selena, known as “the Queen of Tejano,” made a significant impact on the music industry, winning a Grammy during the Tejano music boom of the early 1990s. Her cross-cultural identity resonated with audiences, and her English-language crossover album, “Dreaming of You,” topped the Billboard 200 charts posthumously.

The legacy of Selena lives on through her music and influence on contemporary artists of Latin descent. Her posthumous lifetime achievement award from the Grammys in 2021 further solidifies her impact on the music industry. Jennifer Lopez portrayed Selena in the 1997 biopic, bringing the singer’s story to a wider audience.