CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For those who were living here at the time, it hardly seems like nearly three decades have passed since Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez was murdered -- the subsequent movies, documentaries, and tributes have helped to keep it fresh in peoples' minds.
And now, another chapter is about to be written.
"When I was trying this case 30 years ago, I looked around and saw thousands of people all interested in this case, and to myself, I thought, 'All this is gonna be gone,' " said former Nueces County DA and District Court Judge Carlos Valdez. " ' In 5 years, people are gonna forget about this case, people are gonna forget about Selena, people are gonna forget this ever happened,' and I was so wrong."
Valdez successfully led the prosecution in Yolanda Saldivar's trial in 1995.
"The sentence was life in prison and, back then, life in prison in a first-degree felony -- which is what this was -- meant that a person who's convicted and sentenced to life has to serve 30 calendar years before they're eligible to request parole," he said.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website, that 30-year stretch is up on March 30, 2025.
"I don't think there's any other criminal case that has seen the publicity or the public nature of a case like this one," said Valdez. "It's known all over the world."
Saldivar is already in the Parole Review Process – something that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles typically begins six months ahead of time for an inmate with parole eligibility for the first time.
"Most people think there's a public hearing, like a trial or something," Valdez said. "It's not a hearing -- it's a process that starts with three people on the parole board who start gathering information."
That can include an offender's criminal history and their behavior while in prison, as well as any letters of protest or support on file.
Eventually, the inmate, herself, will be interviewed.
After that, the three-member voting panel will decide by majority vote whether to grant or deny parole.
When asked whether he thinks Saldivar should be set free next year, Valdez says he does not.
"Thirty years later, there is so much interest in the case and I believe -- I really believe -- that the safest place for Yolanda would probably be where she is," he said.
Saldivar has never denied the shooting, but has maintained that it was an accident. Valdez said that it is still his belief that the evidence shows the shooting was intentional.
"Based on what I've seen, so far, I think it would be a serious mistake to grant parole at this time," he said.
Part of the parole process requires the victim's family to be notified the convict has applied 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.
Digital director Ana Tamez contributed to this story.