The family of the slain singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is speaking out after a dramatic parole decision was announced for her killer.
Yolanda Saldívar was eligible for parole for the first time this year after being sentenced in 1995 to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
Saldívar, who was once the president of Selena’s fan club, was convicted of murder after she shot the singer down in a bloody confrontation at a motel.
On Thursday, Selena’s family announced they were ‘grateful’ after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles announced that her killer had been denied parole.
Saldívar, who is 64, will not be eligible again for parole until March 2030.
‘Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar,’ wrote Selena’s family members and herhusband, Chris Pérez, in a joint statement. ‘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.’
The family of the slain singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is speaking out after a dramatic parole decision was announced for her killer
Yolanda Saldívar (pictured) was eligible for parole for the first time this year after her 1995 sentencing to life in prison for murdering Selena, but the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles announced Thursday it was denying her parole
The late singer’s family issued an emotional statement on Instagram on Thursday in response to the dramatic news
‘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,’ they continued.
‘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,’ her family added. ‘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.’
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A version of the somber statement in Spanish was also included in their post.
In a statement announcing its decision to deny Saldívar parole, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles outlined its reasoning for the move: ‘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.’
Saldívar is currently serving her sentence at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit for female offenders in Gatesville, Texas.
Prior to murdering the Queen of Tejano, Saldívar had served as the president of Selena’s fan club, as well as the manager of her Selena Etc. boutiques.
But the woman, who was originally trained as a nurse and was reportedly ‘obsessed’ with Selena, developed a reputation for firing boutique employees due to her personal animosity, and employees began complaining about her bizarre behavior to Selena and her family members by 1994.
Selena was gunned down by Saldívar — the former president of her fan club — at a motel in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 31, 1995; Selena is pictured just over a month earlier on February 26, 1995
Saldívar, who is 64, will not be eligible again for parole until March 2030
In early 1995, Selena and her father Abraham Quintanilla Jr., determined Saldívar had embezzled around $30K from the fan club and boutiques and fired her from both
Then, in early 1995, Selena’s father Abraham Quintanilla Jr. began hearing from fans who claimed to have paid for fan club memberships despite never receiving anything in return.
Quintanilla Jr. and his daughter soon determined that Saldívar had embezzled around $30,000, both from the boutiques and the fan club, which had grown to have over 5,000 members by then.
Early in March of 1995, Saldívar was removed from her position leading Selena’s fan club, and she was fired as the manager of her boutiques over the embezzlement.
But the former manager had kept many of the records and tax documents for the boutiques and fan club that the singer and her family needed to pick up the pieces.
As Selena tried to plan a time to retrieve the documents, Saldívar delayed by concocting a story about allegedly being physically and sexually assaulted on a trip to Mexico.
On the morning of March 31, 1995, Selena accompanied her former employee to a clinic for her to be assessed after the alleged assault, though no gynecological exam was performed that could have determined if she had been raped.
Shortly before noon that day, the two arrived at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi, where Saldívar allegedly had the financial papers.
But once they arrived, she pointed a hand gun at Selena and shot her in the lower right shoulder as the singer tried to run away.
The gunshot wound severed an artery, but despite her dire condition, Selena managed to run to the lobby before collapsing, all while her shooter chased after her, shouting ‘b****.’
Before passing out, the singer was allegedly able to identify Saldívar as her assailant.