Selena’s Killer Yolanda Saldívar Eligible for Parole After 30 Years

• Mar 26, 2025

Yolanda Saldívar, the woman convicted of killing Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, is now eligible for parole, nearly 30 years after the singer’s death. Saldívar, who was the president of Selena’s fan club, shot and killed the rising star on March 31, 1995, in a Corpus Christi hotel room. The shooting followed allegations that Saldívar had embezzled money from Selena’s fan club and boutiques.

Now 64 years old, Saldívar is serving a life sentence at the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, she became eligible for parole on March 30, 2025. Her parole review process began in October 2024, and a hearing will take place at the end of March to determine whether she will be released.

Selena was one of the most influential Tejano musicians of her time, often referred to as the "Queen of Tejano Music." Born in Lake Jackson, Texas, she began performing with her family as a child and quickly gained popularity within the Mexican American and broader Latino communities. She performed at major venues, including Marine Park in Fort Worth and the Houston Rodeo, and later signed with a major record label.

In 1994, Selena made history as the first Tejano artist to win a Grammy Award for her album Selena Live!. At the time of her death, she was working on her first English-language album, Dreaming of You, which was released posthumously in July 1995 and became a huge success.

Her murder shocked fans worldwide, and her story has been retold through documentaries, books, and a 1997 film starring Jennifer Lopez. In Texas, Selena’s legacy lives on through murals, statues, and tributes dedicated to her influence on music and culture.

As the parole board reviews Saldívar’s case, the decision is expected to draw strong reactions from fans and the public, many of whom continue to celebrate Selena’s lasting impact on music and Latino culture.