Former Nueces County DA Carlos Valdez spoke with 3NEWS about the case and whether he believes Yolanda Saldivar should be released in March 2025.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For those who lived here at the time, it’s hard to believe nearly three decades have passed since Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez was murdered. The movies, documentaries, and tributes over the years have kept the memory alive for many.
Now, another chapter is about to unfold.
“When I was handling this case 30 years ago, I looked around and saw thousands of people invested in it, and I thought to myself, ‘All of this will fade away,'” said former Nueces County DA and District Court Judge Carlos Valdez. “‘In five years, people will forget about this case, forget about Selena, forget this ever happened.’ I was completely wrong.”
Valdez successfully led the prosecution in Yolanda Saldivar’s 1995 trial.
“The sentence was life in prison, and back then, life in prison for a first-degree felony like this meant the convicted person would have to serve 30 calendar years before being eligible to request parole,” he explained.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website, Saldivar’s 30-year period ends on March 30, 2025.
“I don’t think any other criminal case has had the level of publicity or public attention like this one,” Valdez remarked. “It’s known worldwide.”
Saldivar is already in the Parole Review Process, which the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles typically begins six months prior to an inmate’s first parole eligibility.
“Most people think there’s a public hearing, like a trial or something,” Valdez said. “It’s not a hearing; it’s a process where three members of the parole board start gathering information.”
This process includes reviewing the offender’s criminal history, their conduct in prison, and any letters of protest or support.
Eventually, the inmate will be interviewed.
Afterward, the three-member voting panel will decide by majority vote whether to grant or deny parole.
When asked if he thinks Saldivar should be released next year, Valdez expressed strong disagreement.
“Thirty years later, the case still generates so much interest, and I believe — I truly believe — that the safest place for Yolanda is probably where she is,” he said.
Saldivar has never denied the shooting but insists it was an accident. Valdez, however, maintains that the evidence shows it was intentional.
“From what I’ve seen so far, I think it would be a serious mistake to grant parole at this time,” he said.
As part of the parole process, the victim’s family is notified when a convict applies for release. Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla, told 3NEWS he has not been contacted by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles regarding Saldivar’s case.
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