Selena’s killer may be Paroled!
San Antonio, US, Mar 17 (EFE). –
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles confirmed to EFE on Monday that it is evaluating the early release of Yolanda Saldivar, sentenced to life in prison for the 1995 murder of singer Selena Quintanilla.
Sources from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said that Saldivar, who has been behind bars for three decades, has her first possibility of release on bail on Mar. 30.
The initial review began in October 2024, six months before her bail eligibility. The process included a review of the case file, an interview with Saldívar, and letters submitted by Selena’s family.
In a recent interview with US media, Saldivar’s family said on her behalf “(she) knows what she did was wrong, and takes responsibility for it,” adding, however, that she reacted to how “she was confronted.”
Saldivar’s family recounts Yolanda says, “[Selena] came at her really aggressively. She was so thrown off by how forceful Selena was; everything happened so fast. If Selena had confronted her differently, this would never have happened.”
Saldívar, 63, is serving a life sentence at Mountain View Women’s Prison in Gatesville. This is her first opportunity to apply for parole.
She fatally shot Selena in a Corpus Christi hotel room on Mar. 31, 1995, during an argument when Selena went to retrieve some documents because she believed the then-president of her fan club had embezzled $30,000 from Selena’s clothing boutiques, which she still denies.
The conversation between the two became tense, as Selena tried to leave, Saldivar pulled out a revolver and shot her in the back.
The singer managed to get out of the room and call for help but died minutes later in hospital.
Since her first conviction, Saldivar has tried to appeal but has always been rejected.
Over the years, she has insisted that the shooting that killed the Tex-Mex queen was an accident.
The Texas Parole Board will consider Saldivar’s application, her behavior in prison, the impact of the crime on the community, and her readiness to reintegrate into society.
The Quintanilla family has publicly distanced itself from Saldivar’s statements on several occasions, discrediting her version of events.
The artist’s supporters have also expressed their indignation on social media, promoting campaigns for the authorities to reject the parole request.
Criminal law experts say that the chances of Saldivar being released are slim, given the seriousness of the case and the media pressure. EFE
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