Yolanda Saldívar, serving a life sentence for the 1995 murder of pop star Selena, has filed for parole after three decades in prison. The request comes amidst claims from fellow inmates that Saldívar faces a "bounty" on her head, a reflection of the enduring animosity surrounding the crime. A hearing is scheduled for March 30th.
Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder for fatally shooting Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in a Corpus Christi motel. This is her first parole attempt. Records from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirm the scheduled hearing.
The case gained significant notoriety, prompting a trial that moved to Houston due to public attention. Saldívar, a former nurse and Selena fan club president, maintained the shooting was accidental, a claim she repeated in a recent documentary.
Despite her defense, Saldívar's former cellmates paint a picture of constant threat. "There's a bounty on her head," stated Marisol Lopez, an inmate who served with Saldívar. "Everyone knows who she is, and they want a piece of her." Another former inmate echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the widespread desire for retribution among the prison population.
Family members have also described threats Saldívar faces in prison, highlighting the ongoing trauma and anger surrounding the loss. The murder occurred at a pivotal moment in Selena's career, as she was experiencing burgeoning mainstream success.
In a recent documentary, Saldívar claimed Selena attempted to dissuade her from taking her own life, but the gun discharged during a heated argument. The incident was captured in Oxygen's True Crime series "Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them." This latest attempt underscores the enduring controversy surrounding this tragic event.
