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Yolanda Saldívar received a life sentence in prison for the fatal shooting of her ex-friend, pop superstar Selena Quintanilla, in 1995.
Saldívar had previously held the position of president of Quintanilla’s fan club, but her relationship with the "I Could Fall in Love" artist deteriorated in early 1995. Abraham Quintanilla, Selena’s father, along with their business partners, uncovered that Saldívar had purportedly misappropriated a significant sum of money from both the fan club and the family-owned boutique in Corpus Christi, Texas.
This conflict culminated in a tragic encounter between the two women on March 31, 1995, during which Saldívar shot Selena in her hotel room. She was charged with first-degree murder and, despite maintaining that the shooting was unintentional, she was found guilty in October 1995.
The life and untimely demise of "The Queen of Tejano Music" is the subject of the 2025 Netflix documentary Selena y Los Dinos, created by her family members Suzette Quintanilla and A.B. Quintanilla III.
Continue reading for additional details regarding the shooting and the current circumstances of Saldívar.
Who Is Yolanda Saldívar?
Yolanda Saldívar was born on September 19, 1960, in San Antonio, Texas.
A lifelong admirer of country music, Saldívar developed an interest in tejano music after attending a concert by Selena Quintanilla. She persuaded Selena and her father, Abraham Quintanilla, to allow her to establish a fan club for the singer.
The fan club became so popular that in 1994, the Quintanillas employed Saldívar to oversee their boutique, Selena Etc., in Corpus Christi, Texas.
However, by early 1995, Saldívar was dismissed from her role as president of the fan club and was terminated from her position at the boutique after it came to light that she had stolen considerable amounts of money from both entities.
Despite this, Saldívar was determined to restore her standing in Selena's eyes, yet she simultaneously developed an unhealthy obsession with the singer.
In the days leading up to the shooting, Saldívar acquired a Taurus Model 85 .38-caliber revolver from a San Antonio gun shop named A Place to Shoot. She initially returned the gun before purchasing it again.
On March 30, 1995, Saldívar checked into the Days Inn in Corpus Christi. From her hotel room, she reached out to Selena, claiming she had been assaulted.
Selena agreed to meet with Saldívar in her hotel room for the purpose of obtaining important financial documents. However, after the meeting, Selena realized that Saldívar had not provided the correct paperwork.
Selena consented to meet with Saldívar once more on March 31, 1995, to collect the accurate documents. During this second encounter, Selena offered to drive Saldívar to Doctors Regional Hospital for a rape examination, only to learn later that the examination would need to occur at a different location.
Upon returning to the Days Inn, Saldívar once again urged Selena to submit financial records. It was then that Saldívar drew her revolver and shot Selena in the lower right shoulder.
Severely injured, Selena fled the hotel room in search of medical assistance. She was rushed to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at approximately 1:05 p.m. local time.
Was Yolanda Saldivar Found Guilty of Murdering Selena Quintanilla?
Indeed, Saldívar was found guilty of first-degree murder in October 1995.
Following the shooting on March 31, 1995, Saldívar attempted to escape the parking lot of the Days Inn, but law enforcement quickly arrived at the location. She declined to surrender, resulting in a standoff with federal agents that lasted almost 10 hours.
Upon her eventual capture, Saldívar faced charges of first-degree murder. She entered a plea of not guilty, maintaining that the shooting was unintentional, asserting that her aim was to take her own life, not Selena's.
In October 1995, Saldívar was convicted and received a life sentence in prison. She is eligible to apply for parole after serving 30 years.
Will Yolanda Saldivar Be Released from Prison?
As of November 2025, Saldívar remains incarcerated. She is serving her sentence in a women's correctional facility located in Gatesville, Texas.
In December 2024, Us Weekly reported that Saldívar formally requested parole as the 30-year mark of her imprisonment approached. An official from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice informed the New York Post that Saldívar had maintained a clean record as she entered the parole process.
In March 2025, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles stated through a release to Us that Saldívar’s parole request had been denied after being reviewed by “a panel of three.” The statement specified that the decision was based on an evaluation of “court documents, offense reports, support/protest information, criminal history, institutional behavior and information/statements from the offender.”
“The parole panel decided to deny parole to Yolanda Saldívar and scheduled her next parole review for March 2030,” confirmed the board.
Selena's family issued a statement expressing their gratitude that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles chose not to grant Saldívar release.
“Although nothing can restore Selena to us, this decision reaffirms that justice remains upheld for the beautiful life taken away from us and millions of fans around the globe far too early,” the Quintanillas stated on Instagram. “Selena’s legacy embodies love, music, and inspiration. She radiated joy, selflessly contributed to others, and continues to inspire countless generations with her artistry and spirit.”
Their declaration continued, “As her family and those who loved her, we are devoted to honoring her memory and ensuring that her narrative is treated with the dignity and respect it rightfully deserves. We express our gratitude to Selena’s fans for their steadfast support over the years. Your affection has been a wellspring of strength and healing for us. We will keep celebrating Selena’s life — instead of dwelling on the tragedy that took her from us — and we urge everyone who holds her dear to do the same.”
Saldívar is still incarcerated as of the time of this publication.
What Has Yolanda Saldivar Stated Regarding the Shooting of Selena Quintanilla?
Saldívar has consistently claimed that she did not mean to take Selena’s life.
“[The media] portrayed me as a monster, and I want to make it clear that I did not kill Selena,” Saldívar stated during a 1995 interview with 20/20. “It was an accident, and I remain free of guilt.”
In 2024, Saldívar participated in an interview for Oxygen’s documentary Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them, where she reiterated her assertion that the shooting was unintentional. She further claimed that she had safeguarded Selena from her father, Abraham, asserting he attempted to dominate the artist’s personal and professional life.
“He sought to control her schedule. He wanted to dictate her movements,” she claimed. “[Selena] was not going to accept that.”
Saldívar alleged that Abraham pressured her to secretly inform him about Selena’s day-to-day activities.
“I couldn’t share that information because my loyalty was to her, not him,” Saldívar noted. “When I refused, his anger turned towards me.”
Abraham condemned the documentary in a statement to TMZ, refuting the allegations and claiming that Saldívar’s latest assertions were fabricated.
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