Selena Quintanilla's killer, Yolanda Saldivar denied parole

HOUSTON, TX - The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles announced Thursday that Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s killer was denied parole and will remain in prison.

The board’s statement reads: “The reason provided by the panel for denial was the Nature of the Offense: The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of the 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.”

Yolanda Saldívar was convicted in 1995 for killing the rising Mexican-American singer. Saldívar will have the next possibility of parole in March 2030.

Quintanilla-Pérez, known by many as Selena, was one of the most famous Mexican-American singers and one of the first to break into the mainstream music scene.

The singer was named Female Vocalist of the Year 10 times at the Tejano Music Awards and won a Grammy for Best Mexican American Album in 1994, a year before her death.

Saldívar was the former president of Selena’s fan club and a manager of the Tejano singer’s clothing boutique.

After Selena and her team learned Saldívar was embezzling money, Saldívar shot and killed Selena on March 31, 1995, at a Days Inn Hotel in Corpus Christi. She was arrested after a 9 1/2-hour standoff with police.

Selena’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla posted to Instagram to share that her family is “grateful” for the board's decision and thanked fans for their ongoing support. The post shared, “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.”

More than 50,000 people lined up to view Selena’s body the day before she was laid to rest in Seaside Memorial Park, a testament to the singer’s impact and legacy left behind.

Fans continue to preserve Selena’s legacy as she is remembered through the Mirador de la Flor memorial statue in her hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Natalee Bravo is a first-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email nbb5612@psu.edu.