Is Yolanda Saldivar Still Incarcerated? The Current Status of Selena’s Killer
Yolanda Saldívar was sentenced to life imprisonment for the shooting death of her former friend, pop star Selena Quintanilla, in 1995.
Once the president of Quintanilla’s fan club, Saldívar’s relationship with the “I Could Fall in Love” singer deteriorated in early 1995. Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla, and their associates uncovered allegations of Saldívar embezzling significant amounts of money from both her fan club and the family’s boutique in Corpus Christi, Texas.
This conflict culminated in a tragic confrontation on March 31, 1995, when Saldívar shot Selena in her hotel room. Charged with first-degree murder, Saldívar maintained that the shooting was an accident but was found guilty in October 1995.
The life and untimely death of “The Queen of Tejano Music” is explored in Netflix’s upcoming 2025 documentary Selena y Los Dinos, produced by her family members Suzette Quintanilla and A.B. Quintanilla III.
Continue reading to learn more about the shooting and Saldívar’s current status.
Who Is Yolanda Saldivar?
Yolanda Saldívar was born on September 19, 1960, in San Antonio, Texas.
A lifelong country music enthusiast, Saldívar became enamored with tejano music after attending a concert featuring Selena Quintanilla. She persuaded Selena and her father, Abraham Quintanilla, to allow her to start a fan club for the artist.
The fan club quickly gained traction, leading the Quintanillas to hire Saldívar to manage their boutique, Selena Etc., in Corpus Christi in 1994.
However, by early 1995, Saldívar was removed from her position as fan club president and let go from the boutique after the Quintanillas discovered she had misappropriated thousands of dollars from both entities.
Despite this, Saldívar was determined to win back Selena’s trust but developed a dangerously obsessive attachment to her.
In the days preceding the shooting, Saldívar acquired a Taurus Model 85 .38-caliber revolver from a San Antonio gun range named A Place to Shoot. She returned the firearm before repurchasing it days later.
On March 30, 1995, Saldívar checked into the Days Inn in Corpus Christi and contacted Selena, claiming that she had been raped.
Selena agreed to meet Saldívar in her hotel room for her to provide critical financial documents. However, Selena soon realized that Saldívar had not given her the necessary paperwork.
The two met again on March 31, 1995, where Selena agreed to drive Saldívar to Doctors Regional Hospital for a rape examination — only to learn later that the exam would need to take place elsewhere.
Once back at the Days Inn, Saldívar again requested to hand over financial records. At that moment, she brandished her revolver and shot Selena in the lower right shoulder.
A seriously injured Selena fled the hotel room in search of medical assistance. She was rushed to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital but was declared dead at around 1:05 p.m. local time.
Was Yolanda Saldivar Convicted of Killing Selena Quintanilla?
Yes, Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder in October 1995.
After the March 31 shooting, Saldívar initially attempted to escape the Days Inn parking lot but was quickly apprehended by authorities. She refused to surrender, resulting in a nearly 10-hour standoff with federal agents.
When finally arrested, Saldívar faced charges of first-degree murder, pleading not guilty and claiming the shooting was accidental, stating that she had intended to take her own life instead of Selena’s.
In October 1995, she was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, with the eligibility for parole after serving 30 years.
Will Yolanda Saldivar Get Out of Prison?
As of November 2025, Saldívar has not been granted parole. She continues to serve her sentence in a women’s facility located in Gatesville, Texas.
Us Weekly reported in December 2024 that Saldívar formally requested parole as she approached the 30-year milestone of her incarceration. A Texas Department of Criminal Justice representative informed the New York Post that Saldívar had maintained a clean record leading up to the parole process.
In March 2025, a statement from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles confirmed to Us that Saldívar’s parole request had been denied, following a review by “a parole panel of three.” This review involved analysis of “court documents, offense reports, support/protest information, criminal history, institutional adjustment, and details provided by the offender.”
The board confirmed, “It was the parole panel’s determination to deny parole to Yolanda Saldívar and set her next parole hearing for March 2030.”
Selena’s family issued a statement expressing gratitude that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected Saldívar’s release.
“While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision affirms that justice remains for the beautiful life that was taken from us and millions of fans worldwide far too soon,” the Quintanillas shared via Instagram. “Selena’s legacy is one of love, music, and inspiration. She lived joyfully, gave selflessly, and continues to uplift generations with her voice and spirit.”
Their statement continued, “As her family and loved ones, we are committed to preserving her memory and ensuring that her story is honored with the dignity and respect it deserves. We thank Selena’s fans for their unwavering support throughout the years. Your love has been a source of strength and healing. We will continue to celebrate Selena’s life — not the tragedy that took her from us — and we ask that all who hold her dear do the same.”
Saldívar remains incarcerated as of this writing.
What Has Yolanda Saldivar Said About Shooting Selena Quintanilla?
Saldívar has consistently denied any intention to kill Selena.
“[The media] portrayed me as a monster, and I want to clarify, I did not kill Selena,” Saldívar stated in a 1995 interview with 20/20. “It was an accident, and my conscience is clear.”
In 2024, Saldívar spoke in an interview for Oxygen’s documentary Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them, reiterating that the shooting was unintentional. She alleged that she had been safeguarding Selena from her father, Abraham, whom she accused of attempting to control the artist’s personal and professional life.
“He wanted to dictate her time. He wanted to direct her whereabouts,” she claimed. “[Selena] wasn’t going to tolerate that.”
Saldívar further alleged that Abraham pressured her to secretly report details about Selena’s daily activities.
“I couldn’t tell him because I was more loyal to her than him,” Saldívar mentioned. “When I didn’t disclose information, anger began to surface.”
Abraham publicly criticized the documentary, responding to TMZ that Saldívar’s new assertions were false and unfounded.
