Will Selena's killer be released? Yolanda Saldívar's parole hearing is set for this month
Yolanda Saldívar, the woman convicted of killing Selena Quintanilla, faces a critical moment as her parole hearing is scheduled. After serving 30 years of her life sentence, she may be eligible for release.
Yolanda Saldívar, who was convicted of murdering Selena Quintanilla, may soon face the possibility of release after spending three decades in prison. A cousin of Saldívar recently told the New York Post that it's time for her to be freed, arguing that leaving her incarcerated no longer serves a purpose.
Despite Saldívar’s hopes for a fresh start, Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla, warns that her safety would be at risk due to the intense hatred from the singer's fans. He believes that she could be in danger from the public, as many are still furious over the tragic killing of Selena in 1995.
When is Yolanda Saldivar's parole hearing set?
On March 30, the decision will be made on whether Yolanda Saldívar, convicted of killing Selena Quintanilla, will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years in prison.
The former president of the singer’s fan club was sentenced to life in prison in 1995, with the possibility of requesting parole after three decades, according to Texas state laws.
Saldívar was found guilty of first-degree murder for fatally shooting Selena on March 31, 1995. She was later incarcerated at the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas.
The crime occurred after Selena confronted her about alleged financial discrepancies within the fan club. However, Saldívar defended herself by claiming that the fatal shot was accidental.
During her time in prison, Saldívar maintained her version of events and even insisted on her innocence in several interviews. In a recent documentary, she reiterated that Selena's death was an accident and that she never intended to kill her.
Meanwhile, Selena’s family and her fans continue to reject these claims.
The decision regarding her parole will depend on various factors, such as her behavior in prison and the evaluation by the correctional authorities. If denied, Saldívar will have to wait for a new review period before reapplying in the future.
What will Yolanda Saldívar do after leaving prison?
A cousin of Saldívar told the New York Post that she believes it’s time for Saldívar to be released after three decades behind bars. "Leaving her in prison won't do any good. It's time for her to get out," she stated.
Other inmates from the same prison where Saldívar is held revealed to the newspaper that she constantly receives threats and needs to be under constant supervision.
Saldívar mentioned that if granted parole, she would live with family members and look for a job.
Abraham Quintanilla, Selena’s father, insists that Saldívar would be in danger if she is released, as fans of his daughter despise her. "There are a lot of crazy people, and they could kill her," he told Primer Impacto on Univisión.
Saldívar, who founded Selena’s fan club, murdered the 23-year-old singer on March 31, 1995, in a hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas, during an argument.
Selena’s family accused Saldívar of embezzling money from Selena’s boutiques and her fan club, leading to her dismissal by Abraham Quintanilla, Selena’s father.
In the Peacock documentary Selena and Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them, Saldívar revealed that she intended to kill herself with the gun, not Selena.