Yolanda Saldívar (born September 19, 1960) is an American former nurse who was convicted of the murder of Selena in 1995. Saldívar had been the president of Selena's fan club and the manager of her boutiques, but she lost both positions a short time before the murder, when the singer's family discovered that she had been embezzling money from both organizations.
Three days after the jury returned a guilty verdict on the first-degree murder charge, they sentenced Saldívar to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 30 years, meaning she will become eligible for parole on March 30, 2025.
Biography
Saldívar was born on September 19, 1960, in San Antonio, Texas. She is one of seven children born to Frank and Juanita Saldívar.
Selena fan club
Saldívar, a former nurse, was originally a fan of country music. After attending one of Selena's concerts, she began repeatedly calling Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla, about starting a fan club in San Antonio. +more
Saldívar was eventually promoted as manager of Selena's clothing boutiques, Selena Etc. +more
Murder of Selena
In early 1995, Selena's family discovered that Saldívar had been embezzling money from both the fan club and boutiques, which led to her firing in the first week of March. On the morning of March 31, Selena agreed to meet Saldívar at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi to retrieve financial records Saldívar had been refusing to turn over. +more
They returned to the motel, where Selena once more demanded the records. Saldívar then took a . +more
Selena collapsed on the floor as the clerk called 911. She later died in a hospital from blood loss at 1:05pm.
Trial and imprisonment
Saldívar's trial for the murder of Selena was followed closely by the Latino community in the United States. The trial was not televised, but cameras were permitted on the courthouse premises. +more
Before the start of the trial, CNN reported that prosecutors were expected to introduce a controversial police confession signed by Saldívar in which she said she shot Selena "during an argument over accusations from the singer's father that Saldívar stole money from Selena's accounts". The defense was expected to introduce testimony from Texas Ranger Robert Garza that "he overheard Saldívar claim the shooting was accidental, and that she objected when police failed to include it in her statement".
The defense attorney argued the shooting was accidental, but the prosecution pointed out that Saldívar, a trained nurse, did not call 911 nor try to help Selena after she was shot.
Jurors deliberated for less than three hours on October23, 1995, before finding Saldívar guilty of first-degree murder. Three days later, on October26, she was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in thirty years; this was the maximum prison term allowed in Texas at the time. +more
Saldívar is serving a life sentence at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. She will become eligible for parole on March30, 2025.
After the conviction
The revolver used to kill Selena disappeared after the trial. It was later found in a box of office supplies at the home of court reporter Sandra Oballe, who has said she did not realize she had the weapon. +more
Saldívar has asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to accept a petition that challenges her conviction. She claims the petition was filed in 2000 with the 214th District Court, but was never sent to the higher court. +more
In popular culture
Saldívar was portrayed by Lupe Ontiveros in the movie Selena, by Damayanti Quintanar in Selena's Secret, a series based on the book of the same name, and by Natasha Perez in the Netflix original series, Selena: The Series. In 2017, Saldivar was portrayed by E. +more
20th-century American criminals
American people of Mexican descent
American female murderers
American murderers
American female criminals
American women nurses
American people convicted of murder
Criminals from Texas
Texas A&M International University alumni
American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Texas
People convicted of murder by Texas
People from San Antonio
Living people
Latest activity
