the murderess wants to regain freedom… there is a price on her head

March 31, 1995, Corpus Christi, Texas. Selena Quintanilla is at the height of her fame. The Texan singer of Mexican origin is adored by the public. Her beauty and talent have made her an icon. The future of the Latin music star is all mapped out, nothing seems to be able to stop him. Nothing, except a woman, Yolanda Saldivar. That day, the woman who was then the president of her fanclub shot the singer, seriously injuring her in the shoulder. Selena tries to escape from her tormentor. Behind her, the singer leaves a large trail of blood in the corridor of the Days Inn motel, where she had an appointment with Yolanda Saldivar. Arriving at the reception, Selena screams for help. “Help me, help me!” I was shot,” she screams. Before collapsing, she says: “Close the door, she will attack me again”, then identifies her attacker and the number of her room, “Yolanda… 158”.

While the hotel staff called for help and tried to stop the bleeding, Yolanda Saldivar returned to her room before fleeing. After 9 hours on the run, she finally went to the police and claimed it was an accident. Taken to hospital, Selena is brain dead. The 23-year-old was pronounced dead the same day, at 1:05 p.m., leaving fans in tears but also angry.

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A story of money and manipulation

The investigation reveals that before the singer’s death, the Quintanilla family suspected Yolanda Saldivar, president of their fanclub but also manager of the star’s two clothing stores, of having embezzled funds from their companies. It was to discuss it in person that the two women met at the motel where the tragedy took place. That day, Selena hoped to recover several missing bank statements and regain control of her finances. But Yolanda Saldivar had a much more macabre plan in mind.

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After her arrest and trial, Yolanda Saldivar was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole in 30 years. “People” magazine indicates that as 2025 approaches, she has just made a request for release, which could be possible as early as March 30. To convince the agents in charge of her case, she claims to no longer be safe in prison, indicating that a price has been placed on her head by other inmates who would like to “do justice to Selena,” explains ABC News.

Because in addition to having stolen money from him, Yolanda Saldivar would also have succeeded in manipulating the artist by gaining his trust, getting closer to his relatives and his associates. After being promoted to head the star’s two boutiques, she reportedly began to be obsessed with the star. “She would get angry if anyone passed over her, she would play many dirty games, saying that people had said things they hadn’t said. Sometimes I knew I had finished a certain piece, but I came back from a trip to New York and the hems were torn. It was very strange,” recalled to “Washington Post,” Martin Gomez, stylist of the singer. “On my last call with Selena, I told her to be careful,” he recalls. “It was very weird. I was very afraid of Yolanda. But I never thought she would hurt Selena. I never thought this would happen. »

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Selena’s Legacy

Because she has never publicly expressed regret, Yolanda Saldivar is considered by many to be someone to be taken down. Threatened in prison, she could also be threatened when she gets out. “They made me out to be a monster, and I just want to say that I didn’t kill Selena. It was an accident, and my conscience is clear,” she simply declared in 1995 in one of her rare interviews.

After his death, tributes multiplied, fans mourning their idol. Selena’s family organized a vigil during which the star’s open casket was presented, allowing her admirers to say a final goodbye. The “New York Times” reported at the time that his body was surrounded by hundreds of bouquets of white roses offered by fans. Selena was later buried at Seaside Memorial Park on April 3, 1995. Her grave has since been marked with a bronze image of the singer and her signature.

Selena was murdered before completing her first Spanish and English album, “Dreaming of You.” It was released posthumously on July 18, 1995 and was an immediate success. In November 2017, Selena was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. More than 4,500 fans attended the inauguration, and former Mayor Eric Garcetti declared November 3 “Selena Day” in Los Angeles. At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in March 2021, Selena also posthumously received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy.