On the eve of Selena Quintanilla-Perez’s 30th death anniversary, the woman serving a life sentence for her murder is now eligible for parole.
Yolanda Saldívar is eligible for parole on March 30. On March 31, 1995, the president of Selena’s fan club, Saldívar, fatally shot the American singer-songwriter.
Saldívar, 64, is currently serving a life sentence at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit in Gatesville for killing the singer. Saldívar shot Selena in a Corpus Christi hotel room after being confronted about embezzling money from her fan club and clothing boutiques.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice website states that Saldívar is currently in the Parole Review Process, which began in October 2024.
The parole board will hold a hearing in late March to determine Saldívar’s eligibility for parole.
Selena Quintanilla’s musical legacy
Selena, also known as the “Reina de Tejano” or “Queen of Tejano music,” became famous among Mexican Americans and Mexicans in the late 1980s.
She was born in Lake Jackson, Texas, and began performing with her family across the state at a young age, including at Marine Park in Fort Worth and the Houston Rodeo.
Her popularity grew quickly in the United States and other Latino markets, and she eventually signed with a major record label. Selena was the first Tejano artist to receive a Grammy Award for “Selena Live!” in 1994.
Selena was in the process of recording her first English-language album and opening several fashion boutiques when she died. Her English-language album “Dreaming of You” was released a month after she died.
Selena’s story has been told in several television documentaries and a feature film starring Jennifer Lopez. In Texas, there are numerous murals, statues, and tributes to the musician.
