A new docuseries that has stirred controversy over the murder of 鈥淨ueen of Tejano鈥� star Selena Quintanilla premiered Saturday night on Oxygen True Crime.
Selena鈥檚 convicted killer Yolanda Sald铆var shared her story from behind bars in Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them. In 1995, Sald铆var gunned down 23-year-old Selena in a Days Inn hotel in Corpus Christi after a financial dispute. Sald铆var was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. She is eligible for parole in 2025.
The two-part docuseries focuses on Sald铆var鈥檚 version of the events leading up to Selena鈥檚 murder. Sald铆var shares details of her relationship with Selena, a confrontation between Sald铆var and the Quintanilla family and the shooting in the hotel room.
The series comes before the 29th anniversary of Selena鈥檚 death and a year before Sald铆var鈥檚 parole hearing. Since , the Quintanilla family and Selena fans have criticized Oxygen for giving Sald铆var a platform. The Quintanilla family was not involved in the docuseries.
Abraham Quintanilla, Selena鈥檚 father and manager called the docuseries 鈥渘othing but lies,鈥� , and said, 鈥渘o one's gonna believe what she has to say anyway.鈥�
In the first episode, Sald铆var鈥檚 family members, including her niece Tina, shared their recollections of Selena and Sald铆var鈥檚 friendship and work relationship. Sald铆var worked as a nurse before she became the president of Selena鈥檚 fan club and later the manager of Selena鈥檚 boutiques, Selena Etc.
Sald铆var shot back at tabloid coverage that demonized her in the wake of the killing. Her nephew and nieces, who said they were also involved in the businesses, talked about the family鈥檚 admiration for Selena.
Sald铆var also gave her account of what happened on March 9, 1995, the day Selena, Selena鈥檚 sister Suzette and Abraham Quintanilla confronted Sald铆var about missing funds. She discussed the day of Selena鈥檚 murder, saying it was an accident.
Sald铆var alleged she knew details about Selena鈥檚 personal life and was keeping knowledge of an extramarital affair from the Quintanilla family.
The episode also included interviews with others involved in Selena鈥檚 murder case, the hostage negotiator who spent nine hours on the phone with Sald铆var after she shot Selena and journalists who cover Selena and Latinx culture.
The episode ended by touching on Abraham Quintanilla鈥檚 involvement in Selena鈥檚 career, with interviewees including Sald铆var calling him an intimidating figure.
The second episode of 鈥淪elena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them鈥� airs Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. on Oxygen.
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