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.
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 Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed with KHOU 11 that Saldívar’s future rested with the Gatesville Board, which is part of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Marsha Moberly is the chair of the Gatesville Board, and online records show she has more than 25 years of criminal justice experience. The board also includes Lee Anne Eck-Massingill and Roel Tejada, both of whom have decades of experience and degrees in the criminal justice field.
KHOU 11 legal analyst Carmen Roe said whether Saldivar is granted parole rests solely on those three people – and the majority rules.
“Although three members are asked to participate, the first two, if they agree to deny or to grant parole, the third would break that tie. Otherwise, they wouldn’t vote at all,” Roe said.
But Roe added that the vote is not done publicly.
“We don’t know much about how this occurs, except that it occurs in the quiet of someone’s office, likely. These decisions will be issued in writing and sent out once the vote is complete,” Roe said.
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.
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.
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.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, a parole officer will present a case study to the parole board, including letters of support or protest and interviews with Saldivar.
The parole division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice identifies inmates six months before the date of their initial parole eligibility and pulls their case file for review. The notice of eligibility for parole is also sent to the victim’s family members.
Roe said an interview is conducted by an officer with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and a summary is then given to the board.
“Yolanda Saldivar will be interviewed by a parole officer or more than one parole officer, and if she has an attorney or is so inclined, she can bring people forward to talk about the changes she’s made since this offense occurred 30 years ago and her progress in prison,” Roe said.
The victim’s family can send the board a statement or appear in person in front of the board.
Andy Kahan, Crime Stoppers of Houston’s Director of Victim Services, said what could be really important is if Selena’s family speaks in-person in front of the board.
“What I tell victim’s families and surviving family members of homicide, why it’s so important if you can, to meet with the board in-person prior to a vote, is you need to let the parole board know who your loved one is. You need to bring them back to life. What that loss meant to your family. How all the years have gone by, and you still can’t forget what happened, and why you want that person to remain in custody,” Kahan said.
Once all statements are given, the inmate’s file is sent to the parole board and voted on by a three-person panel – in this case, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said that would be the three members of the Gatesville Board.
This is a developing story. KHOU 11 will provide updates as they become available. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
