Selena's Murderer Seeks Parole 30 Years After Tejano Star's Death

Selena's Murderer Seeks Parole 30 Years After Tejano Star's Death

By Marcus Bennett

January 16, 2025 at 02:52 AM

Yolanda Saldívar, the former fan club president and boutique manager who murdered Tejano star Selena Quintanilla-Perez in 1995, has filed for parole in Texas after serving nearly 30 years in prison.

Selena text logo on black background

Selena text logo on black background

The fatal shooting occurred on March 31, 1995, at a Days Inn hotel in Corpus Christi after Selena's family discovered Saldívar was embezzling funds from the singer's businesses. During a confrontation, Saldívar shot 23-year-old Selena in the back with a .38 Taurus revolver as she attempted to flee the room. The singer later died at a local hospital from blood loss.

Despite Saldívar's claims that the shooting was accidental and that she had intended to kill herself, a jury convicted her of murder on October 23, 1995. She received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

Now 64, Saldívar is currently "in the Parole Review Process" at the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas. The six-month Texas parole process includes:

  • An inmate interview
  • Collection of support and protest letters
  • Case summary compilation by an Institutional Parole Officer
  • Final decision by the Board voting panel

The parole board will make their decision at the end of March 2025. According to prison reports, Saldívar continues to receive death threats from other inmates due to her notorious crime, though her record remains clear of incidents that would prevent a parole hearing.

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Drake performing onstage with mic

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Neon Boiler Room sign

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