Yolanda Saldívar to Tell Parole Board She’s Not a Cold-Blooded Killer, Selena’s Death Was ‘Tragic Accident’ (Exclusive)

Yolanda Saldívar, the woman serving a life sentence for the 1995 murder of Tejano icon Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, is up for parole 16 months from now — and plans to argue when the time comes that the singer's shooting death was "accidental."

"She has always said that she didn't mean to kill Selena," a Saldívar relative tells The Messenger. "It was totally accidental."

Saldívar, now 62, was convicted of first-degree murder in Selena's shooting death more than 28 years ago.

She is serving a life sentence in Mountain View, a female prison in Gatesville, Texas, and has appealed her conviction multiple times.

But in March 2025, Saldívar hopes to be finally released once she's eligible for parole.

"She wants the parole board to know that she's not a cold-blooded killer," her family member says. "She says it was a tragic accident."

A founder of Selena's fan club, Saldívar has been behind bars since their deadly encounter on March 31, 1995, at a hotel room in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Selena believed her fan and employee had embezzled more than $60,000 and was planning to fire her during a meeting. But things turned violent almost immediately.

During the confrontation, Saldívar shot the "Queen of Tejano" in the back.

Selena, just 23 years old and on the verge of super stardom, died of blood loss at a hospital later that day.

During her murder trial, Saldívar insisted that the shooting was accidental and that she had meant to kill herself — not the beloved singer.

A jury disagreed, and sentenced Saldívar to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

Now, Saldívar is planning to stick to her original story. But few people believe Selena died accidentally.

Even 30 years after Selena's death, Saldívar is so despised by the singer's fans that she faces mortal danger behind bars.

Multiple inmates have told The Messenger that there is a bounty on her head.

She's also getting no sympathy from the late singer's family, who have vowed to oppose her parole.

Saldívar has not responded to multiple letters sent by The Messenger, asking for comment.