Selena Quintanilla-Pérez's killer, Yolanda Saldívar, has recently filed for parole, nearly 30 years after fatally shooting the Latin pop star on March 31, 1995, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Saldívar, now 64, is currently in the parole review process with an eligibility date set for March 30, 2025.
Yolanda Saldívar, who was a close friend of the late star and served as the president of her fan club, allegedly shot Quintanilla-Pérez after being confronted about embezzling around $30,000 from her clothing boutiques. Despite the accusations, Saldívar maintains her innocence regarding the theft.
Currently housed at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas, Saldívar is kept in protective custody due to being a target among inmates. In a recent prison interview for an Oxygen docuseries, Saldívar expressed her desire to set the record straight and share her version of the events leading to the tragic incident.
During the interview, Saldívar claimed that the shooting was accidental and that she never intended to harm Quintanilla-Pérez. She stated that the gun went off unexpectedly, leading to the fatal outcome. Saldívar expressed remorse for the incident, acknowledging the pain caused to both Selena's family and her own.
However, the documentary featuring Saldívar's interview received criticism from fans, as well as Selena's family and friends. Abraham Quintanilla, Selena's father, dismissed the documentary as containing falsehoods and emphasized that the public should not believe Saldívar's claims.
In response to the backlash, Saldívar expressed feeling unfairly judged by public opinion even before her trial began. She asserted that the narrative portraying her as an embezzler and obsessed fan was inaccurate and influenced public perception against her.
Despite the differing accounts and ongoing controversy, the parole review process for Yolanda Saldívar continues as she awaits a decision on her potential release in 2025.
