Nearly 30 Years Later, Yolanda Saldívar Reportedly Claims Selena Played a Role in Her Own Death 

    Yolanda Saldívar has spent nearly three decades behind bars for the murder of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, the Tejano singer whose life and career ended in a motel room in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 31, 1995. As the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles reviews her case, Saldívar’s family is now arguing that Selena’s actions contributed to the confrontation that turned deadly. 

    Saldívar’s Family Shifts the Narrative

    Saldívar, who was convicted of shooting the 23-year-old singer amid allegations of embezzlement, has consistently claimed that she never intended to kill her. According to her family’s statements provided to the New York Post, she has accepted responsibility but believes that the way Selena confronted her escalated the situation. They describe the singer’s demeanor as aggressive, saying that Saldívar was caught off guard by the intensity of the exchange. 

    Relatives insist that had Selena approached her differently, the tragedy might have been avoided. While Saldívar has long maintained that the gun discharged accidentally, her family now claims that the singer’s actions played a role in how events unfolded that day. 

    A Long Road to Parole

    Saldívar, now 64, became eligible for parole after serving nearly 30 years of her life sentence. The review process began in October 2024, six months before her eligibility date of March 30. The board’s decision will factor in interviews with Saldívar, letters from Selena’s family, and a review of her case file. 

    Despite multiple failed appeals, Saldívar continues to argue that she was convicted by public opinion before her trial even began. She has referred to herself as a political prisoner and insists that her trial was unfair. 

    Meanwhile, she remains in protective custody, separated from the general prison population due to concerns for her safety. Former inmates have said that discussions about harming her were common inside the prison, with many seeing her continued imprisonment as justice for Selena. 

    What’s Next for Yolanda Saldívar

    Saldívar’s family has made it clear that they will support her if she is released, offering her a place to live. But questions remain about how she would reintegrate into society. Even her relatives acknowledge that finding employment would be nearly impossible given her notoriety. 

    The parole board’s decision is expected at the end of the month. If granted release, Saldívar will walk out to a world that still sees her as the woman who took Selena’s life. If denied, she will remain behind bars with little chance of changing the way history remembers her. 

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