Will Selena’s Killer Walk Free Despite the Bounty on Her Head?

The woman convicted of killing Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in 1995 has taken a step toward possible release. Yolanda Saldívar, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of the 23-year-old superstar, has filed for parole, with a hearing set for March 2025.

Saldívar, now 64, remains one of the most notorious inmates in Texas, confined at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit in Gatesville, a facility that also houses the state’s female Death Row prisoners. A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed that her record in custody carries no infractions that would disqualify her from seeking parole. Selena’s family is expected to receive official notice of the hearing in January.

Selena, often called the “Queen of Tejano,” was on the verge of crossover superstardom when her life was cut short on March 31, 1995. The fatal confrontation took place in a Corpus Christi hotel room, where Selena had accused Saldívar, her fan club founder and boutique manager, of embezzling over $60,000. During the altercation, Saldívar shot the singer, claiming later it was an accident during her own suicide attempt.

A jury rejected her defense, convicting her of first-degree murder and sentencing her to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Saldívar has maintained her innocence, telling a documentary last year, Selena and Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them, that she had been “convicted by public opinion even before my trial started.”

Inside the prison walls, Saldívar’s notoriety has made her a target. Former inmates describe a hostile environment where her identity sparks constant threats.

“Everyone knows who Yolanda Saldívar is,” said Marisol Lopez, as reported by The New Yoroker; she served time alongside her until 2022. “There’s a bounty on her head. If she were out in general population, someone would try to take her down.”

Saldívar has told relatives she plans to live with family and seek employment if granted parole. A cousin recently defended her bid for release, stating, “Keeping her in prison isn’t going to do any good. It’s time for her to get out.”

However, the public remains deeply divided. For many, the pain of losing Selena, whose music and cultural legacy endure nearly three decades later, has not faded. Whether Saldívar will walk free next year now rests with the parole board, a decision that will undoubtedly reignite strong emotions for Selena’s devoted fans and family.

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