Texas denies freedom of freedom for Selena Quintanilla’s killer, Yolanda Saldívar

The Texas Grace and Passwords Council refused freedom Yolanda SaldívarWoman convicted for iconic killing of singer Tejano Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. This decision was made on Thursday, March 27, 2025, just four days before the 30th anniversary of Selena’s tragic death.

Saldívar, 64 years ago, executed his life sentence in Texas. After fulfilling the 30 years, she was finally eligible to request the condition of conditional freedom. However, the conditional freedom Council decided to refuse its request, citing the violent nature of its crime.

In their statement, the Board of Directors explained: “The file indicates that the crime in question presents elements of brutality, violence, aggressive behavior or a conscious selection of the victim’s vulnerability, which demonstrates a conscious disregard for the life, safety or property of others, so that the offender represents a continuous threat to public safety.”

After a thorough examination of all the available information, which included any confidential interviews, was the decision of the conditional freedom group to refuse the freedom for Yolanda Saldivar and to establish the next revision of the right of freedom for March 2030.

The reason provided by the denial group was the “nature of the crime”: “The registration indicates that the instantine crime has elements of brutality, violence, aggressive behavior or conscious selection of the victim’s vulnerability, which indicates a conscious failure to life, safety or property of others, so that the offender represents a continuous threat.”

The family reacts

The family of Selena and Chris Pérez, her widow, expressed gratitude for the decision. Suzette Quintanilla, Selena’s older sister, shared on Instagram: “Although nothing can bring us back to Selen, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to be on the beautiful life that has been taken from us too soon and from the millions of fans from all over the world.”

Saldívar, who was the founder of the Fani Club Selena and the manager of his boutiques, shot her on the singer on March 31, 1995, at A Days Inn Motel in Corpus Christi, Texas, after confronting on misappropriation. She was found guilty in October 1995 and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of conditional freedom after 30 years.

Selena’s legacy remains strong three decades after her death. Known as “Queen Tejano”, Selena broke the barriers in a men’s dominated industry and became the first female Tejano artist who won a Grammy. Her music and story continue to inspire new generations of artists and fans.

Saldívar will not be eligible to request again for conditional freedom until March 2030. Meanwhile, it will continue to execute his sentence in Texas prison, where he has been in the last 30 years.