"SELENA: THE SHOOTING OF THE QUEEN OF TEJANO - PART 1" - Dia De Los Muertos - A day to celebrate the dead

0:03 Callaroga Shark Media, Good morning, I'm Reed Carter. Saturday, November first, twenty twenty five Dia de los Mortos. Today and tomorrow are the Day of the Dead. Two days to celebrate and remember those who've passed, to honor their lives, not just mourn their deaths. And across the United States and Mexico, you'll see one face appear on altars every year, Marigold's purple jumpsuits. The Queen of Tejano, Selena Quintanilla Perez March thirty first, nineteen ninety five, twenty three years old, shot in the back by Yolanda Saldivar, the woman she trusted with everything. Let me paint you the picture. Corpus Christi, Texas Days in Room one point fifty eight, eleven forty eight am, Selena arrived to meet Yolanda one final time.

0:56 She'd been fired weeks earlier as president of Selena's fan club. Fired from managing Selena's boutiques, caught himbezzling sixty thousand dollars missing maybe more. Selena wanted the financial documents, proof of what Yolanda stole, needed them to press charges if necessary. Yolanda kept promising to produce them, kept stalling. This was the last chance, they argued. Selena demanded the documents. Yolanda couldn't produce them because they didn't exist, because she'd stolen the money and there was no explaining it away. Selena turned to leave. Yolanda pulled out a point three to eight caliber revolver fired once. The bullet hit Selena in the back, severed an artery. Selena ran made it to the lobby, bleeding, collapsing, told the front desk manager, locked the door, she'll shoot me again. Staff called nine to one one. Selena named her killer before losing consciousness. Yolanda Saldivar Room one five to eight. Paramedics arrived rushed her to Mamori Orial Medical Center. Doctors tried everything, but the damage was too severe internal bleeding. The artery was gone one five pm. Selena Quintanilla Perez pronounced dead. Twenty three years old, thirteen days before her twenty fourth birthday, married, six months, career skyrocketing English language crossover album, nearly finished fashion line in development. Everything ahead of her gone because

2:30 Yolanda Saldivar stole money and couldn't face the consequences outside the days in Yolanda sat in a pickup truck, gun to her own head, threatening suicide. Police surrounded her. Negotiators tried to talk her down. She held them off for nine and a half hours, crying, screaming, saying it was an accident, saying she loved Selena, saying she wanted to die. Finally surrendered at nine thirty pm. Arrested for murder thirty years past October nineteen ninety five. Convicted of first degree murder, life in prison, eligible for parole after thirty years. March twenty twenty five, that thirty years was up. Yolanda Saldivar, now sixty four years old, went before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. The Quintinia family prepared submitted statements opposing release. Chris Perez, Selina's widower, joined them. Thousands of fans wrote letters, the Latino community mobilized keep her in prison.

3:36 March twenty seventh, twenty twenty five, the Parole Board announced their decision denied Yolanda Saldivar will not be released. The board's statement was clear, the record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assault of behavior. Or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability, indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety. Next parole review March two thousand, thirty five more years, maybe longer. The Quintinilla family and Chris Perez released a joint statement today.

4:18 We are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldivar. While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans around the world far too soon, and every Dia de los Mortos, Selena's face appears on altars, honored, celebrated, remembered. I'm read Carter. This is celebrity trials today. The rise of Selena, the betrayal by Yolanda Saldivar, the shooting that devastated a community. March thirty first, nineteen ninety five, the day the music died, and March twenty twenty five, the day the Parole Board said no Part one of two Selena Quintinila Perez was born April sixteenth, nineteen seventy one, at Freeport Community Hospital in Lake Jackson, Texas. Father Abraham Quintinila Junior, was a former musician. Mother Marcella Ophalia Samora, older siblings ab and Suzette.

5:25 The family wasn't wealthy. Abraham worked at Dow Chemical to support them, but music was in his blood. He'd performed with a band called Los Dinos in the nineteen fifties and sixties. When he discovered his youngest daughter could sing, everything changed. Selena was six years old. Abraham heard her singing along to the radio. Perfect pitch, natural rhythm, raw talent. He taught her Spanish. She grew up speaking mostly English so she could sing Tehano music, taught her stage presence. Built a family band, Selena ILOs Dinos. Selena sang a Bee played bass and wrote songs. Suzette played drums. Abraham managed.

6:10 They performed at the family restaurant, Papagaios and Lake Jackson weddings, Kincinners County fairs, anywhere that would book them. The restaurant failed, recession hit, the Quintinillas lost everything, moved to Corpus CHRISTI, lived in one room. Selena, then eleven, understood the family dependent on her voice. She kept performing, kept improving, never complained. By age fifteen, Selena was winning to Hano Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year in a genre dominated by men. She was breaking barriers, not just because she was talented, though she was extraordinarily talented, but because she connected with audiences. She was authentic, joyful, real.

6:54 Selena met Chris Perez, guitarist hired to play in Los Dinos. He was twenty, she was sixteen. Abraham didn't approve, thought Selena was too young, too focused on career, but they fell in love anyway. April second, nineteen ninety two, Selena and Chris eloped. Abraham was furious. Eventually forgave them. Chris became part of the family, part of the band, part of everything. That same year, Selena released Entre am Mundo. The album went gold. Her cover of Como la Floor became iconic. Twenty thousand people attended her performance at the Houston Astrodome. She was crossing over from to Hano into mainstream Latino music, soon mainstream American music. Selena won a Grammy Best Mexican American album for Selena Live. She was twenty two first Tihano artist to win a Grammy. Wore a stunning purple outfit, gave a gracious speech, thanked her family.

7:54 Her fans said she was living her dream. That Grammy changed everything. Record labels tie. She signed with EMI Latin started recording Amor Prohibido, an album that would sell over five million copies become one of the best selling Latin albums in history. But Selena wasn't just a singer. She was a designer. Created her own stage costumes Boustier's bell bottoms, crop tops, bold, confident, sexy, but never vulgar. She knew exactly what image she wanted to project. She opened two boutiques, Selena Etc. One in Corpus Christi, one in San Antonio, sold clothing and accessories. She designed everything, managed inventory, hired staff.

8:37 This was her fashion line, her dream. Beyond music. She was recording her first English language album, Dreaming of You, the crossover pop radio, MTV international stardom. The album was nearly finished by early nineteen ninety five, set to release that summer. Everything was coming together music, fashion, marriage, future, and she needed someone to manage the business side. Someone she could trust, someone devoted to her success. Enter Yolanda Saldivar. Yolanda, a thirty one year old registered nurse from San Antonio, approached Abraham Quintinilla at a concert. Said she wanted to start a Selena fan club, organize fans, sell merchandise, coordinate events for free. She just loved Selena that much. Abraham was skeptical, but Yolanda was persistent. Professional, had nursing credentials, seemed trustworthy. He agreed to let her try. Yolanda threw herself into the role. Built the fan club from nothing.

9:42 By nineteen ninety three, it had thousands of members. She answered fan mail, personally organized meet and greets, sold t shirts and posters, collected membership fees. Selena appreciated the help. Yolanda made her life easier, handled details Selena didn't have time for. They became close. Selena started calling her my best friend. Trusted her completely. Abraham asked Yolanda to manage the boutiques Selena et Cetera needed someone reliable, someone who understood business. Yolanda had managed the fan club successfully, seemed like a natural fit. Yolanda moved to Corpus Christi ran both boutiques, handled payroll, managed inventory, made deposits, had access to everything, complete trust, but crack started showing. Boutique employees complained, said Yolanda was difficult, controlling, made arbitrary decisions, fired people without cause, treated staff poorly, created hostile work environment. Selena tried to mediate, told Yolanda to ease up, be kinder, work with people not against them. Yolanda would apologize, promised to do better, then continue the same behavior. Fans started complaining too paid membership fees but never received merchandise, sent money for the T shirts that never arrived. Called the fan club and Yolanda didn't respond. Something was wrong. January nineteen ninety five, Selena's cousin and boutique employees alerted Abraham.

11:13 Money was missing, deposits didn't match receipts. Bank statements showed irregularities forged checks, cash withdrawals that couldn't be explained. Abraham investigated, hired an accountant, reviewed financial records from the fan club and both boutiques. The numbers didn't add up. Sixty thousand dollars missing, embezzled stolen by Yolanda Saldivar March ninth, nineteen ninety five. Abraham confronted Yolanda, showed her the evidence, fired her, told her she was done, no longer president of the fan club, no longer managing the boutiques over. Yolanda cried, said there must be a mistake. She didn't steal. She could explain, just needed time. She had documents, bank statements proof.

12:01 Abraham didn't believe her. The evidence was clear, but he gave her a chance. Produce the documents, prove the money went where it was supposed to go, then maybe this could be resolved. Yolanda promised, said she'd bring everything soon. Days passed, weeks passed, no documents. Yolanda kept stalling, making excuses, claiming she needed more time. The documents were at the bank, at her house, in storage, always somewhere else. Selena grew frustrated, wanted closure, wanted to know exactly what happened. Decided to meet Yolanda one final time. Demanded the documents. If Yolanda couldn't produce them, Selena would go to police. March thirty first, nineteen ninety five, Yolanda called Selena, said she'd been raped in Monterey, Mexico. Needed Selena to come to the hospital.

12:52 Selena rushed to Doctor's Regional Hospital in Corpus Christi, but when she arrived, hospital had no record of Yolanda being treated. Yolanda claimed she'd left, was too upset, needed to talk. Could they go to the days in her motel room. She had the documents there would show Selena everything. Selena agreed, brought Chris Perez, but when they arrived, Yolanda wouldn't give Chris the documents, said she'd only talk to Selena alone private, just the two of them. Chris didn't want Selena to go in alone, didn't trust Yolanda. Felt something was off, but Selena insisted, said she'd be fine. Yolanda was her friend.

13:34 This needed to end. Eleven forty eight am, Selena walked into Room one fifty eight of the Days In. Chris waited outside in the truck. That was the last time he saw his wife alive. We'll be right back with what happened inside Room one fifty eight, the argument, the gun, the bullet in Selena's back, and the nine and a half hour stand off that ended with Yolanda Saldivar under arrest for murder. Room one fifty eight days in Corpus Christi, Texas, eleven forty eight am, March thirty first, nineteen ninety five.

14:17 Selena and Yolanda alone, whatever trust remained was about to shatter. We know what happened from multiple sources, Yolanda's own statements, though they changed constantly, physical evidence, witness testimony, police reports, autopsy results. They argued. Selena demanded the financial documents, prove where the sixty thousand dollars went, Explain the forged checks, the missing deposits, the fan club money that disappeared. Yolanda couldn't because the documents didn't exist. The money was gone, stolen, spent. No amount of stalling would change that. Selena said she was calling the police, going to report the embezzlement. Yolanda would face criminal charges, fraud, theft, prison, her nursing license revoked, her life destroyed. Selena turned toward the door, ready to leave, Done with this conversation, done with Yolanda's lies. Yolanda pulled out a gun, Taurus Model eighty five point three eight Special Revolver five shot. She'd purchased it weeks earlier, told friends she needed protection, felt threatened, but threatened by what the Quintinillas, discovering her theft, the consequences closing in. She fired once. The bullet hit Selena in the right shoulder, blade entered her back, traveled through her chest cavity, severed the subclavian artery. Selena screamed, ran for the door, bleeding terrified,

15:48 made it out of Room one fifty eight, down the exterior walkway toward the lobby, seventy five yards, running while bleeding internally every step, pumping more blood out of the severed artery. Yolanda chased her part way, then stopped, went back to the room. What was she thinking? Planning her next move, deciding whether to finish the job. Selena reached the lobby, collapsed near the front desk. Shana Vela, assistant manager, saw her fall, saw the blood. Help me, Selena gasped, I've been shot. Locked the door, she'll shoot me again. Vela called nine one one. There's a girl who's been shot.

16:30 She's bleeding. We need an ambulance now. The nine one one operator asked who shot her? Vella asked Selena Yolanda Saldivar, Room one five eight, clear, coherent, dying, but she named her killer. Made sure police would know. If she didn't survive, Yolanda wouldn't get away with it. Paramedics arrived within minutes. Selena was unconscious, massive blood loss. They stayed her as much as possible, loaded her into the ambulance, rushed to Memorial Medical Center. Meanwhile, back at the day's in, Yolanda sat in her pickup truck in the parking lot, red chevy, gun pressed to her right temple, screaming, threatening to kill herself.

17:17 Corpus Christi police arrived, surrounded the vehicle. Officer Richard Frederickson approached, tried to negotiate. Yolanda screamed, I shot myself. I shot myself. I'm going to kill myself. But she didn't shoot herself. Selena was shot, not Yolanda. The story didn't make sense. Fredericson radioed for backup crisis negotiators. This was a hostage situation, except the hostage was Yolanda herself. For nine and a half hours, police negotiated, multiple officers rotated, tried different approaches, calm, reassurance, stern commands, emotional appeals. Nothing worked. Yolanda kept changing her story.

17:59 First said she shot herself, except she had no injuries. Then said it was an accident, the gun went off while she and Selena struggled, then said she was trying to kill herself and Selena tried to stop her. None of it matched the evidence. Selena was shot in the back, running away, not struggling over a gun, not attacking, fleeing inside the ambulance. Then at Memorial Medical Center, doctors fought to save Selena, but the damage was catastrophic. The subclavian artery supplies blood to the arm and part of the brain. When severed, you bleed out internally fast. They performed emergency surgery, tried to repair the artery, tried to replace the blood volume, but her pressure kept dropping, organs shutting down. Too much damage, too much blood loss. Outside in the waiting room, Chris Perez collapsed. Selena's family arrived, Abraham, Marcella, Suzette a Bee, all waiting, praying, knowing one five PM. Doctors came out, nothing more they could do. Selena Quintinila Perez was pronounced dead twenty three years old, thirteen days before her twenty fourth birthday, married, six months English language album, almost finished, fashion line growing, everything ahead of her gone. The hospital issued a statement. Local radio stations announced it within minutes.

19:25 The Latino community was devastated. Fans gathered outside the hospital crying in shock. Selena was dead. News spread across Texas, then California, then Mexico, then nationwide. Selena wasn't just a regional star. She was the queen of Tahano, the crossover success story, the pride of the Mexican American community. And Yolanda Saldivar killed her, shot her in the back over sixty thousand stolen dollars back at the day's in. Yolanda didn't know sel had died. She kept saying, I need to know if she's okay. Is she okay? Tell me she's okay. Police didn't tell her, kept negotiating, trying to end the standoff safely. Finally, after nine and a half hours, police made the call, brought in Corpus Christy's swat team, sniper's positioned tear gas ready. If Yolanda didn't surrender, they'd end it. The lead negotiator gave her an ultimatum, Yolanda, this is over. Put the gun down, come out. You're not going to hurt yourself. We're not going to let you hurt yourself. But this ends now. At nine point thirty pm, Yolanda placed the gun on the dashboard, opened the truck door, hands up. Corpus Christy police rushed in, cuffed her, took her into custody, arrested for murder. As they led her away, she kept asking, is Selena okay?

20:53 Did she survive? Tell me she's okay. They told her Selena Quintinilia Perez was dead. Died at one o five pm, eight hours ago. You killed her. Yolanda collapsed, crying, screaming, no, no, it was an accident. I didn't mean to. I loved her. I loved her. But love doesn't pull the trigger. Love doesn't shoot someone in the back. Love doesn't steal sixty thousand dollars from someone who trusted you. Yolanda was transported to Nuys's County Jail, booked, charged with first degree murder, no bond. She'd sit in jail until trial. Outside the day's in news crews were everywhere. Fans held vigil candles, flowers, photographs of Selena singing her songs Como lafleur amor prohibido bad bed bomb bomb. The celebration of her life had already begun, even as the world processed the horror of how she died. Make it make sense. Selena trusted Yolanda with everything, the fan club, the boutiques, her business, her friendship, and Yolanda betrayed every bit of that trust, stole money, got caught, brought a gun to their final meeting, shot Selena in the back when confronted, then held police hostage for nine hours, claiming it was an accident, claiming she loved Selena, claiming she wanted to die. If you loved her, you wouldn't have stolen from her. If it was an accident, the bullet wouldn't have entered her back. If you wanted

22:25 to die, you'd have pulled the trigger. During those nine hours, Yolanda wanted attention, control, sympathy. She wanted to be the victim, but Selena was the victim. Bleeding out on a motel lobby floor dead at twenty three your tax dollars at work, a woman in Bezels sixty thousand dollars, gets fired, murders her boss, then holds police hostage for nine hours, and the system had to negotiate with her, treat her like a victim, protect her from herself while Selena's family grieved more in a moment. April first, nineteen ninety five, the day after Selena died, Corpus Christi woke to devastating news.

23:13 Radio stations played her music continuously, no commercials, no talk, just Selena. Fans gathered everywhere, outside the Day's inn, outside Memorial Medical Center, outside her boutiques, outside her family's home. Thousands of people crying, hugging, strangers, united in grief. Texas Governor George W. Bush declared April sixteenth, Selena's birthday Selena Day in Texas. Said she'd been a role model for Hispanics and non Hispanics alike, the essence of South Texas culture, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Miami, New York. Latino communities across the country mourned. Selena wasn't just Texas's star. She belonged to everyone who saw themselves in her story. Every Mexican America kid who dreamed big, every Latina who wanted to sing, every family that sacrificed so one member could shine. April third, nineteen ninety five, Selena's funeral seaside Memorial Park in Corpus Christi.

24:15 The funeral itself was private, only family and close friends, but fifty thousand people lined the streets. The procession stretched from miles. Businesses closed, schools closed, the entire city shut down to say goodbye. Her casket was white, covered in white roses. Chris Perez had bought her white roses constantly, her favorite. Now they covered her coffin. Chris was inconsolable, married six months, lost his wife to someone she considered a friend, someone he'd warned her about, someone she trusted anyway. The funeral program showed Selena smiling. That smile, the one that lit up every stage, every photograph, every moment, gone forever.

25:00 Media coverage was unprecedented. People magazine put Selena on the cover Selena, Her Life and Tragic Death. The issue sold out, they reprinted, it, sold out again, eventually became one of the best selling People magazines ever. But the coverage wasn't just tabloid sensationalism. It was genuine mourning. Newspapers published her story, her rise from poverty, her grammy, her crossover plans, what she meant to the Latino community, the representation she provided. Before Selena, there weren't many Mexican American women in mainstream music. She opened that door proved it was possible, and just as she was about to step through, murdered by the person she trusted most. April nineteen ninety five, E M I Latin made a decision. Selena's English language album Dreaming of You was nearly complete, four English songs finished, rest of them. The album would be previous Spanish hits. They'd release it in July, honor her memory, let fans hear what she'd been working on. The Quintinilla family approved. Selena had worked so hard on that album, dreamed of the crossover, the English market, pop radio, international success. She deserved to have it released. July eighteenth, nineteen ninety five. Dreaming of You, released posthumously, debuted at number one on the Billboard two hundred, first Latin artist to debut at number one. The album

26:33 she'd been working toward her entire life finally achieved what she'd dreamed of, too late for her to see it. I Could Fall in Love became a massive hit, played on top forty radio pop stations adult contemporary. The crossover happened, just not the way anyone wanted. The album eventually sold six million copies, one of the best selling Latin albums in history proved what everyone already knew. Selena would have been a superstar, not just in Tahno, not just in Latin music, in all of music. But she never got to experience it. Never got to perform on The Tonight Show, never got to headline arenas for English speaking audiences, never got to see her face on MTV. All of that was stolen by Yolanda Saldivar. Meanwhile, Yolanda sat in Nueesas County jail awaiting trial. Her attorneys filed motions requested change of venue, argued she couldn't get a fair trial in Corpus Christi. Too much publicity, too much community grief. They weren't wrong. You couldn't walk anywhere in Corpus Christi without seeing Selena's face, hearing her music, meeting someone who loved her.

27:45 The jury pool was contaminated by emotion by loss. Judge Mike Westergren eventually agreed, granted change of venue moved the trial to Houston Harris County October nineteen ninety five. The Quintinilla family was dev stated they wanted justice in Selena's home, in the community that loved her, but the law required fairness even for murderers. So Houston it was. District Attorney Carlos Valdez prepared his case physical evidence, medical examiner, testimony, witness statements, financial records showing embezzlement, Yolanda's changing stories during the standoff, the bullet trajectory proving Selena was shot in the back while fleeing. Yolanda's defense team prepared too, claimed it was an accident, a suicide attempt gone wrong. Selena tried to stop her the gun went off, tragic but not murder. The trial was scheduled for October nineteen ninety five, six months after Selena's death. The world would be watching.

28:49 Spanish language media would cover it extensively. Latino community wanted justice, wanted Yolanda convicted, wanted her to spend the rest of her life in prison. But first they had to bury Selena, say goodbye, begin processing the grief. Except the Latino community never really said goodbye. They kept her alive through her music, through her memory, through celebrating her life every year. October twenty first, nineteen ninety five, while Yolanda's trial was underway, the Quintinilla family announced a biographical film was in development. Casting call went out, Thousands auditioned. Eventually, Jennifer Lopez, a relatively unknown actress, was cast Selena. The movie premiered, showed her rise, her family's sacrifices, her dreams. Her murder introduced Selena to people who'd never heard of her. Made Jennifer Lopez a star, made Selena immortal. Thirty years later, people still watch that movie, still listen to her music, still wear her fashion, still celebrate her. On Dia de los Muertos.

29:57 Selena Quintinidia Perez died March thirty first, nineteen ninety five, but she never really left. Every November first and second, she returns through the Marigolds, through the efriendas, through the celebration of her life. That's what Yolanda Saldivar can never kill, the legacy, the love, the joy Selena brought to millions. That's part one of our Selena Special. March thirty first, nineteen ninety five, days in Corpus Christi, Texas, Yolanda Saldivar shot Selena Quintinila Perez in the back over sixty thousand dollars in embezzled funds. Selena ran to the lobby named her killer died at Memorial Medical Center, twenty three years old.

30:43 Nine and a half hour standoff followed, Yolanda with gun to her head, claiming it was an accident, claiming she loved Selena finally arrested at nine thirty pm, charged with murder. Tomorrow, Part two. The trial October nineteen ninety five, Houston. Yolanda's defense falls apart the verdict, the sentence, life in prison March twenty twenty five, the parole hearing, the denial, and why the Quintinilla family says Yolanda must die in prison, and the legacy. How Selena's music, fashion and spirit endure thirty years later. How every Dia delos mortos she's celebrated, not mourned, celebrated because that's what the Day of the Dead is about, honoring lives that were cut short, keeping their memories alive. Selena would be fifty four years old today, born April sixteenth, nineteen seventy one, died March thirty first, nineteen ninety five. Should be performing, creating, inspiring the next generation. Instead, she's frozen at twenty three, Forever young, forever, the Queen of Tahano. Someone has to say her name Selena Quintinilla Perez.

31:58 She deserves to be remembered for more than how she died, for who she was, what she built, what she meant to millions. Today is Dia delos Mortos, the Day of the Dead, and Selena is home. I'm read Carter. This is Celebrity Trials. See you tomorrow for part two. Rest in peace, Selena,