'I knew her secrets': Selena’s killer Yolanda Saldiva breaks silence 30 years after shooting superstar
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS: Yolanda Saldivar, the woman responsible for the tragic death of Latin American superstar Selena, is breaking her silence from prison after three decades.
The upcoming docuseries, 'Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them,' is set to feature jailhouse interviews with Saldivar, offering a glimpse into the mind of the convicted murderer just before she becomes eligible for parole next year.
Selena, born in 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas, rose to fame as the lead singer of Selena Y Los Dinos, a family band that played Tejano music.
"I knew her secrets," Saldivar reveals in the trailer, "And I think the people deserved to know the truth."
The convict, who was both a friend and a mega fan of Selena, fatally shot the 23-year-old singer in 1995, only two weeks before her 24th birthday.
Yolanda Saldivar's embezzlement scandal
Saldivar, the founder of Selena's fan club and a manager of the singer's stores in Texas, became entangled in a web of embezzlement and betrayal.
The 'I Could Fall in Love' singer's father had received complaints from fan club members about missing items and money disappearing from a San Antonio store, prompting Selena to confront Saldivar.
The fatal encounter took place on March 31, 1995, at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi, where Selena sought to retrieve financial records.
As she was leaving, Saldivar shot her in the back. Selena, in her final moments, managed to name Saldivar as her assailant before succumbing to blood loss and cardiac arrest at Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital, as per The Sun.
Saldivar, facing a nine-hour standoff with the police, eventually surrendered and was charged with murder with a deadly weapon. Despite maintaining that the shooting was an accident, she was sentenced to life in prison. She is set to become eligible for parole on March 30, 2025.
Selena and Yolanda's upcoming docuseries promises to unveil hidden truths
Selena's father, Abraham, dismissed Saldivar's claims of accidental shooting, asserting that "it was a moment of rage because she was being fired."
The docuseries promises to delve into the suspect's working relationship and friendship with the Grammy-winning artist, shedding light on the dynamics that led to the tragic event.
Saldivar's family will also contribute to the series, providing never-before-seen documents and recordings, aiming to present a more comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding Selena's untimely death.
'Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them' is scheduled to premiere on Oxygen with back-to-back episodes on February 17 at 8 pm, followed by the final episode on February 18 at 7 pm.
