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Crime & Justice • Murder

Yolanda Saldívar

Yolanda Saldívar is an American former nurse best known for being convicted of the 1995 murder of singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in Corpus Christi, Texas.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Yolanda Saldívar is an American former nurse best known for being convicted of the 1995 murder of singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Her 2025 parole request was denied, and her next review is scheduled for 2030.

Early life

Yolanda Saldívar was born in San Antonio, Texas, on September 19, 1960. Public sources identify her as a former nurse before the events that led to her criminal case.

Murder of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez

Saldívar was accused of fatally shooting singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez on March 31, 1995, in Corpus Christi, Texas. The case drew widespread attention because of Selena’s prominence in Tejano music and popular culture.

Trial and sentence

A jury found Saldívar guilty of first-degree murder in 1995. She received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

Parole review

Saldívar became eligible for parole in 2025, but the Texas parole board denied her request in March 2025. Her next parole consideration is scheduled for March 2030.

Key facts

  • Yolanda Saldívar was convicted of the 1995 first-degree murder of singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in Corpus Christi, Texas.
  • She was sentenced to life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 30 years.
  • Her first parole review in March 2025 was denied; next review is March 2030.
  • At trial, she argued the shooting was accidental.
  • She was a former nurse from San Antonio, Texas.
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Canadian context

Her case remains widely known in Canada because Selena Quintanilla-Pérez had a broad international audience and her death was widely covered in Canadian media.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Yolanda Saldívar?
She is an American former nurse convicted of murdering singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in 1995.
What was Yolanda Saldívar convicted of?
She was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.
When was Yolanda Saldívar sentenced?
She was sentenced in October 1995 to life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 30 years.
Was Yolanda Saldívar granted parole in 2025?
No. Her parole request was denied in March 2025.
When is her next parole review?
Her next parole review is scheduled for March 2030.

References

  1. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yolanda_Sald%C3%ADvar
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, conviction, sentence, and 2025 parole denial
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yolanda_Sald%C3%ADvar
    Supports: American former nurse, murder conviction, life sentence, and parole timeline
  3. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gegv552nno
    Supports: 2025 parole denial, life sentence, and next parole review in 2030
  4. BBC Mundo — https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/cx2g2yzwvwxo
    Supports: Background, birthplace, incarceration, and parole denial
  5. The New York Times (Spanish) — https://www.nytimes.com/es/2025/03/27/espanol/estados-unidos/selena-yolanda-saldivar-libertad-condicional.html
    Supports: Parole denial, murder conviction, and life sentence with parole eligibility after 30 years