Yolanda Saldívar is one of the most infamous names in the history of Tejano music. She is the former fan club president and boutique manager of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, the beloved singer who was shot and killed by Saldívar on March 31, 1995.
Saldívar, who is now 62 years old, has been serving a life sentence in a Texas prison since 1995. She will be eligible for parole in 2025, and according to a family member, she thinks it’s time for her to be released.
The family member told MSN that Saldívar is a “different person” after spending nearly 30 years behind bars. Adding that Saldívar has expressed remorse for killing Selena and that she hopes to reconnect with her family and friends if she gets out of prison.
“She thinks it’s time,” the family member said. “She’s been in there long enough.”
Saldívar has received death threats from other inmates and she lives in fear for her safety, according to the family member. Saldívar has been isolated from the general population and she spends most of her time reading the Bible and praying.
“She’s very religious now,” said the family member. “She says God has forgiven her.”
Credit: Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice
However, not everyone is ready to forgive Saldívar or to see her walk free. Selena’s fans and family have been vocal about their opposition to Saldívar’s parole. Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., told MSN that he hopes Saldívar stays in prison for the rest of her life.
“I don’t think she should ever get out,” Quintanilla said. “She took away something very precious from us.”
Quintanilla also said that he believes Saldívar killed Selena intentionally and that he doesn’t buy her claim that it was an accident. Saldívar has maintained that she shot Selena while trying to kill herself with a gun that went off accidentally.
“I don’t believe anything she says,” Quintanilla said. “She’s a liar.”
The tragic story of Selena’s death has been the subject of several books, documentaries, movies, and TV shows. The most recent one is Netflix’s “Selena: The Series”, which depicts Saldívar’s rise from a devoted fan to a trusted employee to a disgruntled embezzler who betrayed Selena.
Saldívar was accused of stealing money and merchandise from Selena’s fan club and boutiques, which led to a confrontation between the two women at a motel in Corpus Christi, Texas. There, Saldívar shot Selena in the back as she tried to flee. Selena managed to reach the lobby and identify Saldívar as her assailant before collapsing. She was pronounced dead at a hospital at the age of 23.
Saldívar was arrested after a nine-hour standoff with the police, during which she threatened to kill herself with the same gun she used to shoot Selena. She was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
Saldívar’s parole hearing is scheduled for 2025, but it is not guaranteed that she will be granted parole. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles will review her case and consider several factors, such as her behavior in prison, her criminal history, her psychological evaluation, and the impact of her crime on the victim’s family and society.
Selena’s legacy, on the other hand, is undeniable. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful Latin artists of all time. She is credited with breaking barriers and opening doors for other female singers in the male-dominated genre of Tejano music. She also crossed over to the mainstream market with her English-language album “Dreaming of You”, which was released posthumously and became a hit.
Selena’s music, style, and charisma continue to inspire millions of fans around the world, who celebrate her life and honor her memory every year on March 31, the anniversary of her death.
Source: MSN.com
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