She has been in prison for the 1995 murder and is required to serve 30 years.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The woman convicted of killing Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla-Perez has been denied parole after spending decades behind bars for fatally shooting the young singer at a Texas motel in 1995, the state’s parole board announced Thursday.
Yolanda Saldívar, 64, is serving a life sentence at the Patrick L. O’Daniel prison unit in Gatesville, Texas. A three-member panel of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted to not release her. The panel said her case will be eligible to be reviewed again for parole in 2030.
It has been nearly 30 years since the Tejano sensation, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, was killed.
Streaming tonight on KHOU 11+: “Music, murder, legacy: Selena’s story.” Relive the highs of her groundbreaking career, the heartbreak of her death, and the impact she still has today. Watch at 8 p.m. or on demand.
Family responds
Selena’s family shared a statement on Instagram following the news.
“Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar. 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.
“Selena’s legacy is one of love, music, and inspiration. 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.
“We thank 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.
“The Quintanilla Family and Chris Pérez”
The denial was expected, according to legal experts.
“In all my years of doing parole hearings, particularly on homicide cases, it’s extremely rare for an offender to get out on their first review,” said Andy Kahan, with Crime Stoppers of Houston.
A Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Officer interviewed Saldívar as part of the parole request process. They likely also heard testimony from family members, but those records will be kept confidential.
Her case will come under review again in March 2030.
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
The “Queen of Tejano” was much beloved and established an incredible legacy in a short brush with superstardom. She was one of the first Mexican-Americans to make it into the mainstream music scene and was on the verge of crossing over into the English-language pop market when she was killed.
Selena rose to stardom and won a Grammy during a Tejano music boom in the early 1990s. Her hits include “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Como la Flor,” “Amor Prohibido,” “No Me Queda Mas” and “Tu Solo Tu.”
“Dreaming of You,” her English-language crossover album released a few months after her death, topped the Billboard 200, and featured hits “I Could Fall in Love” and “Dreaming of You.” Jennifer Lopez played the singer in “Selena,” a 1997 biopic.
The Grammys awarded Selena a posthumous lifetime achievement award in 2021.
The shooting
Saldívar 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.
Selena a Corpus Christi native, was 23 years old when she was shot in the back with a .38-caliber revolver at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi on March 31, 1995. She was able to run to the motel lobby where she collapsed, and she was pronounced dead at a hospital an hour later.
Motel employees testified that Selena named “Yolanda” in “room 158” as her attacker.
“I didn’t mean to do it. I didn’t mean to kill anybody,” a sobbing Saldívar said during a nine-hour standoff with police. She told police she had bought the .38-caliber revolver to kill herself.
On October 23, 1995, a jury in Houston convicted Saldívar of first-degree murder. She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
This is a developing story. KHOU 11 will provide updates as they become available. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
