On the 30th anniversary of Selena’s death, her killer is denied parole

The powerful voice of Tejano music superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is still an indelible staple in Latino households and parties nearly 30 years after her death.

The powerful voice of Tejano music superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is still an indelible staple in Latino households and parties nearly 30 years after her death. The grief that engulfed fans immediately after Selena’s life was cut short has morphed over the years into a celebration of the cultural icon every spring on the days leading up to her April birthday. But this year, the memorial is accompanied by a sense of relief as Yolanda Saldívar, the woman who shot and killed Selena in a Texas motel room, was denied her first attempt at parole. “Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar,” the Quintanilla family and Selena’s husband Chris Pérez said in a joint statement shared on their social media platforms. “While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans around the world far too soon,” they added. Saldívar, 64, is serving a life sentence for the singer’s 1995 murder at a prison in Gatesville, Texas, about 100 miles north of Austin. In the weeks leading to the parole board’s decision, some fans chatted about Saldivar’s potential release while others remained focused on celebrating Selena’s life and legacy — much like the singer’s family.