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Yolanda Saldívar, convicted of murdering Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla-Perez in 1995, was denied parole on Thursday. Saldívar, who was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years, was eligible for release this year.
However, a Texas parole board deemed her a continued threat to public safety, citing the nature of her crime as demonstrating “a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others.” Saldívar will be eligible for parole again in March 2030.
Saldívar was the founder and manager of Selena’s fan club and also managed the singer’s clothing boutiques. The shooting occurred on March 31, 1995, at a Corpus Christi hotel after Selena’s family confronted Saldívar about alleged embezzlement from the fan club and clothing line.
Reports indicate Saldívar, subsequently fired, met with Selena at the hotel to retrieve business records, purportedly for tax purposes. During the encounter, Selena attempted to flee and was shot in the back by Saldívar.
Selena, known as the “Queen of Tejano,” achieved significant success in the early 1990s during the Tejano music boom, even winning a Grammy Award. Her posthumous album, Dreaming of You, topped the charts, further solidifying her legacy. The 1997 biopic Selena introduced her story to a wider audience and launched the acting career of Jennifer Lopez.