Yolanda Saldivar is the woman who killed Selena Quintanilla, the beloved Tejano singer, in 1995. She was the president of Selena’s fan club and the manager of her boutiques, but she also embezzled money from the singer and her family. She shot Selena in a motel room after the singer confronted her about the theft. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
But who is Yolanda Saldivar, and what do we know about her family? Did she have a husband or children? What happened to her relatives after the crime? In this article, we will explore the life and family of Yolanda Saldivar, the woman who took away the life of a music icon.
Early Life and Education
Yolanda Saldivar was born on September 19, 1960, in San Antonio, Texas. She was one of seven children of Frank and Juanita Saldivar. Her father was a record producer and a head waiter at a Mexican restaurant, and her mother was a housewife.
She attended three different elementary schools and graduated from McCollom High School. She then enrolled at the University of Texas, but later transferred to Palo Alto College, where she earned a degree as a registered nurse.
Did Killer of Selena Have A Family?
Yolanda Saldivar never married or had children. She was reportedly engaged to a man named Carlos Antonio Miranda, but he broke off the engagement after learning of her involvement with Selena. She also had a niece, who was a childhood friend of Selena, and who testified against her at the trial.
Yolanda Saldivar’s family members have remained out of the public eye since the murder. Her parents, Frank and Juanita, have not spoken to the media or visited their daughter in prison. Her siblings have also kept a low profile, and their whereabouts and occupations are unknown.
Yolanda Saldivar has maintained that she did not intend to kill Selena and that she still loves her. She has expressed remorse and regret for her actions and has asked for forgiveness from Selena’s family and fans. She has also claimed that she has received death threats and harassment from other inmates and prison staff.
Career and involvement with Selena
Yolanda Saldivar worked as a nurse at a medical clinic in San Antonio. She was a fan of Selena Quintanilla, the rising star of Tejano music, and attended one of her concerts in 1991. She met Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla, and offered to start a fan club for the singer. She became the president of the Selena Fan Club, which grew to have more than 5,000 members.
Through the fan club, Yolanda Saldivar became close to Selena and her family. She gained their trust and admiration and was promoted to be the manager of Selena’s clothing boutiques, Selena Etc. She had access to Selena’s business accounts and finances and traveled with her frequently.
However, Yolanda Saldivar also showed signs of obsession and jealousy towards Selena. She tried to control Selena’s personal and professional life and clashed with her employees and associates. She also stole money from the boutiques and the fan club, forging checks and invoices. She bought a gun and claimed that she needed it for protection from the relatives of mentally ill patients she cared for.
Yolanda Saldivar’s Children & Husband
| Date of birth | September 19, 1960 |
| Occupation | Former nurse, fan club president, and retail manager |
| Victim | Selena Quintanilla, Tejano singer and fashion designer |
| Husband | Not Married |
| Children | Not Known |
| Partner | Carlos Antonio Miranda |
| Date of murder | March 31, 1995 |
| Location of murder | Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Weapon | .38 Taurus Model 85 revolver |
| Motive | Embezzlement, obsession, and jealousy |
| Verdict | Guilty of first-degree murder |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 30 years |
| Current prison | Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas |
| Next parole eligibility | March 30, 2025 |
The murder of Selena
In early 1995, Selena’s father discovered that Yolanda Saldivar had been embezzling money from the singer and her family. He confronted her and fired her from her position. He also warned Selena to stay away from her, but Selena wanted to give her a chance to explain and return the stolen documents.
On March 31, 1995, Selena met Yolanda Saldivar at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi, Texas. They argued about the missing papers, and Yolanda Saldivar pulled out her gun and shot Selena in the back. Selena ran to the lobby and collapsed, naming Yolanda Saldivar as her assailant. She was rushed to the hospital, but died from blood loss.
Yolanda Saldivar fled to her truck and had a standoff with the police for nine hours. She threatened to kill herself, but eventually surrendered. She was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Trial and imprisonment
Yolanda Saldivar’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.
The jury consisted of six men and six women, mostly Hispanic. The prosecution presented evidence of Yolanda Saldivar’s theft, obsession, and premeditation, while the defense argued that the shooting was accidental and that Yolanda Saldivar loved Selena.
On October 23, 1995, after two hours of deliberation, the jury found Yolanda Saldivar guilty of murder. She was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years. She is currently incarcerated at the Mountain View Unit, a maximum-security prison for women in Gatesville, Texas. She has been denied parole twice, in 2014 and 2016. She will be eligible for parole again in 2025.
Content Source: wikipedia.org/Yolanda_Saldivar
