Selena Quintanilla was murdered by a former nurse, Yolanda Saldivar. Here's what we know about her latest whereabouts.
Fans of the iconic singer of Texas, Selena Quintanilla, fondly called her Selena. It’s been over three decades since Selena was murdered on March 31, 1995. She was just 23 when she was killed by the former president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar. Chris Perez and Selena’s family, including her parents and siblings, still remember her and are continuing to manage her legacy.
According to multiple reports, Yolanda shot Selena with a .38-calibre revolver in the Days Inn Motel in Corpus Christi, Texas. The bullet had hit Selena’s artery, and she succumbed to her injuries. Before collapsing in the lobby of the motel, the iconic singer’s last words were, "Help me! Help me! I've been shot! Lock the door! She'll shoot me again! Yolanda ... 158." After shooting the 23-year-old singer, Yolanda remained hidden in the motel’s parking lot and threatened to kill herself. Eventually, she surrendered and was arrested. Now, if you are interested in knowing more about Yolanda and her latest whereabouts, we’ve got you covered.
Yolanda Saldivar was born on September 19, 1960, in San Antonio, Texas. Before she met Selena, Yolanda was a registered nurse. Later, she became the president of Selena’s fan club in San Antonio. However, on March 2, 1995, Selena and her family accused Yolanda of embezzling money from the singer's businesses. Meanwhile, Selena’s fashion designer, Martin Gomez, told The Washington Post that he was very afraid of Yolanda. He also alerted Selena about Yolanda and told her to be careful.
After shooting Selena in the Days Inn Motel in Corpus Christi, Texas, Yolanda hid herself in the motel’s parking lot. She claimed that it was an accidental shooting and pleaded not guilty. According to The New York Times, Yolanda locked herself in her truck and also threatened to kill herself. Eventually, she surrendered herself and was arrested. She was charged with first-degree murder and went on trial on October 9, 1995. After two weeks, she was found guilty of murder. Later, she was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 30 years.
On March 27, 2025, Yolanda was denied parole. At the time, the three-person Texas parole board claimed that Yolanda still poses a "threat to public safety". The board also claimed that Yolanda’s crime showed "a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others." Currently, she is serving out her sentence at the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit prison in Gatesville, Texas.
Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas, to Abraham and Marcela Quintanilla. She grew up along with her two siblings, Abraham III (A.B.) and Suzette, in Corpus Christi, Texas. When the trio became older, their dad formed a family band with Selena on lead vocals, Suzette on the drums and A.B. on the keyboard. Later, Selena and her siblings named it Selena y Los Dinos to honour their dad’s contribution to music. Soon, the band became popular, and Selena earned the nickname, 'The Queen of Tejano Music'.
This band also helped Selena to meet the man of her dreams, Chris Perez. For the uninitiated, Chris auditioned for Selena’s band in 1990 and was hired by Selena’s brother, A.B Quintanilla. Initially, the duo kept their relationship strictly professional and later, when the band took a trip to Mexico, Selena and Chris fell in love. On April 2, 1992, Chris and Selena eloped and got married. At the time, Selena was 20, and Chris was 22. On March 31, 2026, Chris wrote a heartfelt note on Selena’s 31st death anniversary on his Instagram handle. The note can be read as:
"This day, this time of year…is always difficult for those of us who loved her. But, what an amazing thing it is to see what her legacy has become. Just want to say that, along with all the melancholy emotions that are present…there is also a feeling of gratitude. I know, it’s crazy. I know, you feel it too. But I am grateful that you guys continue to push Selena’s legacy forward…and you do it loud and proud! Let’s all keep it up…for her. Her memory and legacy deserve to be remembered for generations to come."
What are your thoughts on Yolanda Saldivar being denied parole? Let us know.
Also Read: Who Was Selena Quintanilla? Know All About The Iconic Singer Who Got Murdered At Mere Age Of 23