Nearly 30 years after the death of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, her killer—Yolanda Saldívar—was denied parole.
According to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, the 64-year-old, who is serving a life sentence for murdering the singer, known as Selena, was denied parole March 27 due to the nature of the offense.
“The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim’s vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety,” said the board’s statement.
Saldívar was undergoing the parole review process and was eligible for parole on March 30, meaning she could be released no earlier than that date.
Initial review proceedings began about six months before her eligibility date.
“Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar,” read the post.
“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.
“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,” continued the post.
“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.”
Saldívar has spent the last three decades behind bars at the Patrick O'Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas, after she shot and killed the 23-year-old Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter on March 31, 1995.
Saldívar, who was the president of Selena’s fan club while also managing her clothing boutiques, shot Selena in a Corpus Christi hotel room after getting fired when confronted for embezzling money from her.
In October 1995, Saldívar was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 30 years.
As part of the parole eligibility process, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice parole officer reviewed Saldívar’s case file and conducted an interview with the offender, in order to prepare a summary for the board.
The three-member panel then held a meeting to vote on whether or not parole would be granted.
As part of the process, family members of the victim and anyone else involved were also sent notice of parole eligibility and given the opportunity to provide written statements or in-person testimonies before the board.
Saldívar will be granted the opportunity for another review in March of 2030.
‘Queen of Tejano’
Known as the “Queen of Tejano music,” Selena rose to prominence in the late 1980s performing with her family-formed band, “Selena y Los Dinos.”She quickly grew in stardom across the United States, Mexico, and abroad, releasing six albums with the band and eventually embarking on a solo career with 24 singles and seven promotional singles.
In 1994, Selena became the first female Tejano artist to win the Grammy for the category of best Mexican/Mexican-American album.
Her biggest hits include “Como La Flor,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” ”I Could Fall In Love,“ and ”Dreaming of You.“ The album ”Dreaming of You,” released posthumously in 1995, topped the Billboard 200 chart and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.
She was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017 and a lifetime achievement award from the Grammys four years later.
