In a significant development out of Texas, Yolanda Saldívar, the individual convicted of the 1995 murder of the Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla-Perez, has been denied early release from her life sentence. Saldívar, who founded Selena’s fan club, was initially given the possibility of parole after serving 30 years in prison for her heinous crime. However, on Thursday, a three-member Texas parole board rejected her application for early release, citing concerns over public safety. The board underscored that the severity of her offense exhibited “a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others.” The tragic incident occurred on March 31, 1995, at a hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas, where Saldívar fatally shot the 23-year-old Selena in the back after being dismissed by Selena’s family for alleged embezzlement from the singer’s fan club and clothing line. Prior to her murder, Selena had garnered significant fame in the music industry, earning a Grammy and being hailed as “the Queen of Tejano” for her contributions to the genre. Her posthumous album, Dreaming of You, reached the top of the Billboard chart in 1996, marking a significant moment for Latin American music and inspiring many Latina women. Seldívar will next be eligible for parole consideration in March 2030.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gegv552nno