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The Woman Who Killed Selena Quintanilla: The Tragic Story of Yolanda Saldívar

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Who is Yolanda Saldívar?

Yolanda Saldívar is a former registered nurse, who became known for her involvement in the murder of the popular Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in 1995.

Yolanda Saldívar Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education

Yolanda Saldívar was born on 19 September 1960 in San Antonio, Texas, USA., one of eight children of Frank and Juanita Saldívar. Her father worked as a head waiter at a Mexican restaurant. She attended several elementary schools before graduating from McCollum High School in 1979. She faced bullying and teasing due to her weight and struggled to make friends, which led her to isolate herself from social activities.

She went on to study nursing at Texas A&M International University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1990. Saldívar adopted three children, including her niece, and worked as a registered nurse at several hospitals, including Medical Center Hospital and St. Luke’s Lutheran Hospital. She faced legal trouble over stolen money from her employers, and an unpaid student loan.

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Introduction to Selena’s Music and Starting the Fan Club

Yolanda Saldívar first became interested in Selena’s music in the late 1980s, when introduced to it by a friend. Saldívar, who was of Mexican-American heritage and grew up in Texas, was immediately drawn to Selena’s unique style of Tejano music and her charismatic stage presence.

For Saldívar, Selena’s music represented a connection to her own cultural heritage and a source of inspiration. She approached Selena’s father, Abraham, and talked with him about starting a Selena fan club in San Antonio. He immediately approved of her idea, and she was made the club’s president.

Clothing Store Manager and Money Embezzlement Accusation

Yolanda’s involvement with Selena’s business increased. The fan club quickly rose from 1,000 to 5,000 members. When the two bonded over the success, Selena named her the manager of her two clothing boutiques in Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Saldívar was responsible for handling the day-to-day operations of the boutiques, including inventory management, sales and staffing.

However, people from the club started complaining about missed payments and receiving nothing from the club, and Selena’s father became suspicious of Yolanda’s management.

He learned that she was embezzling money, and in early 1995 Abraham, Selena, and her sister Suzette organized a meeting with Yolanda. During the meeting, they accused her of illegal actions, and Abraham fired Yolanda immediately, but Selena kept in contact with Yolanda as she had to give her financial documents.

The Murder of Selena

On 31 March 1995, Selena arranged to meet Yolanda Saldívar at a Days Inn hotel in Corpus Christi to collect financial records that Saldívar had been withholding. However, Saldívar claimed she’d been raped in Mexico, which caused a further delay. Selena drove Saldívar to a hospital, but doctors found no evidence of rape. Upon returning to the motel, Selena asked for the financial papers again, but Saldívar pulled a pistol from her purse and pointed it at Selena. The singer tried to run, but Saldívar shot her in the right shoulder, causing severe damage to an artery. Despite being critically injured, Selena ran towards the lobby seeking help, with Saldívar in pursuit, hurling insults. Selena ultimately died due to blood loss in hospital at 1:05 p.m., just 16 days before her 24th birthday.

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Trial and Sentencing

Yolanda Saldívar’s trial for causing fatal shots to Selena, was a hot topic in Latino community in the United States. There was no televised broadcast of the trial, however, outside the courthouse, there were bunch of reporters and cameras. Saldívar’s defense team successfully argued for a change of venue to Houston, Texas, citing concerns about an unfair trial in Selena’s hometown. During the trial, the prosecution presented a police confession in which Saldívar admitted to shooting Selena during an argument over allegations of theft. Conversely, the defense presented testimony from Texas Ranger Robert Garza, who claimed that Saldívar stated the shooting was unintentional.

Despite the defense’s claims, the prosecution argued that Saldívar, who was trained as a nurse, failed to call for emergency assistance or provide any medical aid to Selena after she was shot. Moreover, evidence revealed that the pistol required considerable pressure on the trigger to fire, making it improbable that the shooting was accidental. The judge did not allow the jury to consider lesser charges, and they were instructed to either acquit or convict Saldívar of first-degree murder.

After a few hours of deliberation, the jury found Saldívar guilty of murder, and she received a life sentence in prison. She is currently incarcerated at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas, where she is kept in isolation for 23 hours each day because of death threats from Selena’s fans. She can accept visits from friends and family for two hours a week, and she will become eligible for parole on 30th March 2025.

The gun used to kill Selena disappeared after the trial, and was eventually found by chance in a box of office supplies at the home of a court reporter named Sandra Oballe. Although some groups objected to its disposal, the gun was dismantled, and its parts were thrown into Corpus Christi Bay in 2002.

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Saldívar has filed a petition with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals challenging her conviction, claiming that it was filed in 2000 with the 214th District Court but was never sent to the higher court. Her request was received on 31 March 2008, which happened to be the 13th anniversary of Selena’s death; the petition was denied.

Films and TV Shows With Yolanda Saldívar

Yolanda Saldívar’s story has been featured in various forms of popular culture. In 1997, a biographical film entitled “Selena” was released, which chronicled the life and career of the late singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, and included Saldívar’s portrayal as the murderer. The film was well-received and helped bring Selena’s music and legacy to a wider audience.

Saldívar has also been the subject of several true crime documentaries and TV shows, including “Killer Women with Piers Morgan” and “Murder Made Me Famous”. In addition, she’s been referenced in various other works of popular culture, such as songs, TV shows, and books.

Net Worth

According to sources, Yolanda Saldívar’s net worth is estimated at $2 million, as of early 2023.

Personal Life, Marriage, Children

According to reports, Yolanda was married and has three children, Armando, Juanita, and Frank Saldivar. However, there is no further info on her personal life, confirming or refuting her family situation.

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Appearance and Body Measurement

Yolanda Saldívar has dark brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall, and weighs approximately 120lbs (55kgs). Her vital statistics are 34-28-40, and her bra size 34C.

As the Managing Editor at The Legit, I direct a dynamic team dedicated to creating rich content that profiles the lives and accomplishments of influential figures. My commitment to detail and storytelling drives the production of biographies that truly engage our audience. I manage all aspects of the editorial process, from conducting thorough research to crafting vivid narratives, all while ensuring the accuracy and quality of our work. At The Legit, our goal is to offer our readers comprehensive profiles that provide deep insights into the realms of business, entertainment, and more. Through diligent research and engaging storytelling, we highlight the exceptional journeys and achievements of those who both inspire and intrigue us.

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Where is Michael Peterson now? The True Story of His Wife Death

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Who is Michael Peterson?

American novelist and convicted killer Michael Iver Peterson was born in Nashville, Tennessee USA, on 23 October 1943, meaning that Scorpio’s his zodiac sign. He’s probably known best for having been convicted of killing his second wife Kathleen Peterson; Michael was sentenced to spend his life behind bars without the possibility of parole on 10 October 2003, but was released on house arrest after $300,000 bail was paid in 2011.

Education and early life

Michael was raised alongside his sister Ann Christensen and their brothers John and Bill in Nashville, by their mother Eleanor (nee Bartolino) and father Eugene Iver Peterson; not a lot else is known about Michael’s family, because he respects their privacy.

He was mostly focused on his education while attending a local high school, while some of the activities he was into the most included creative writing, playing soccer and dancing. Michael matriculated in 1962, and then enrolled at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; he was the editor of the university’s newspaper “The Chronicle” during his four years there, and was the president of the fraternity Sigma Nu. Michael graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in political science in 1965, and then began taking classes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Law School.

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Michael’s career

In 1965, Michael began working for the US Department of Defense, researching arguments in support of the US military involvement in Vietnam. The year 1968 saw Michael join the US Marine Corps, and he served in Vietnam for three years prior to being honorably discharged as a captain, after he was hit by a car and left with a disability.

In 1999, Michael claimed that he had been presented with two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star with Valor and a Silver Star for his service in the Marine Corps, but the newspaper “News & Observer” later revealed that no records showed that Michael had won any Purple Hearts.

He and his first wife lived in Germany after he was discharged, then Michael moved back to Durham in 1987.

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He’s published three novels, all of which related to his time in Vietnam. His first novel “The Immortal Dragon” was published in 1983, followed by “A Time of War” in 1990, and his third “A Bitter Peace” in 2020.

Michael also co-wrote the biographical book “Operation Broken Reed”, together with Arthur L. Boyd, and “Charlie Two Shoes and the Marines of Love Company” with David Perlmutt. He also spent some time working as a columnist for the newspaper “The Herald-Sun”.

Love life and marriages

Michael married his first wife Patricia Sue in 1965, following his graduation; she taught at an elementary school on Rhein-Main Air Base in West Germany, where Michael was stationed. They had two children together, Todd and Clayton.

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While living in Germany, Michael and Patricia befriended the Ratliff family, which comprised George and Elizabeth, and their children Martha and Margaret. After George and Elizabeth died in 1985, Michael became their children’s guardian, but he and Patricia divorced two years later, with their children staying with Patricia, while Michael, Martha and Margaret moved together to Durham. Todd and Clayton also eventually came to live with Michael.

He met successful business executive Kathleen Atwater in 1989 – they moved in together in the same year, married in 1997, and he became stepfather to Kathleen’s daughter Caitlin. The marriage ended when Kathleen died on 9 December 2001.

Kathleen’s death and Michael’s trial

Michael called the police on 9 December 2001, claiming that Kathleen was lying down on the floor unconscious, and that she had probably fallen down the stairs.

Toxicology reports showed that Kathleen had drunk some alcohol and taken the prescription drug Valium, while the autopsy showed that she had died two hours after the injuries that she had suffered. Kathleen’s sister Candace Zamperini, as well as her daughter Caitlin both believed that Michael had nothing to do with Kathleen’s death, but they changed their mind after learning that Michael’s bisexual.

Michael was accused of murder, as the autopsy showed that no fall could’ve resulted in Kathleen’s injuries; the prosecution claimed that Kathleen found out about Michael’s gay life, which he had tried to hide, and that he wanted to take her $1.5 million life insurance. It was then revealed that Michael’s friend from Germany Elizabeth Ratliff had also died from similar injuries as Kathleen, and was also found at the foot of her staircase; a second autopsy of Elizabeth’s buried body was ordered, and her cause of death was then officially changed to ‘homicide’. Michael wasn’t charged with Elizabeth’s murder.

He was found guilty of killing his wife on 10 October 2003, and sentenced to spend life behind bars. Michael’s lawyers filed a motion for a new trial on 12 November 2008, but it was denied. It was in the second half of 2009 that a new theory about Kathleen’s death surfaced; it was claimed that an owl had attacked her outside, causing some of her injuries, and that she then fell down and hit her head after running from the owl inside the house. The investigators found two microscopic owl feathers when re-examining Kathleen’s hair.

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North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper began investigating the SBI analyst Duane Deaver in the first half of 2010, and Duane was suspended in August of the same year; he was the lead witness against Michael at his trial, and it was revealed that Duane had presented false evidence in 34 cases. Due to these new findings, Michael was released on a $300,000 bail on 16 December 2011, and placed under house arrest.

He entered the Alford plea on 24 February 2017, and was sentenced to seven years in jail, but because he had already served more than that, he was thus released.

The documentary series about the entire case, “The Staircase” was released in October 2004, while its sequel “The Staircase 2: The Last Chance” premiered in November 2012.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Michael’s been staying away from the media’s attention since he was freed in 2017, with the exception of when he published his novel “A Bitter Peace” in 2020.

He can rarely be seen spending time outdoors, as he enjoys the peace of his home; it’s been revealed that Michael no longer has a staircase at his house.

He was physically highly active during his 20s, 30s and 40s, as he worked out at the gym and played a number of sports.

Michael’s a huge fan of American actor and moviemaker Clint Eastwood, while some of his favorite movies include “The Outlaw Josey Wales”, “High Plains Drifter” and “Play Misty for Me”.

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Height, eyes and wealth

Michael’s age is 79. He has brown eyes and grey hair, is 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall and weighs around 150lbs (68kgs).

Michael’s net worth’s been estimated at over $100,000, as of April 2023.

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Lina Medina: How a Five-Year-Old Girl Became a Mother in 1939

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Who is Lina Medina?

Peruvian Lina Marcela Medina de Jurado was born in Ticrapo, Castrovirreyna Province, Peru, on 23 September 1933, making Libra her zodiac sign. She’s probably only known for being the youngest mother in human history, as she was less than six years old on 14 May 1939, when she gave birth to her son. Lina was a few months away from turning five when she was impregnated, and it’s believed that it was the rare condition ‘precocious puberty’ that led to this.

Family and pregnancy

Lina and her eight siblings were raised in Ticrapo, by their mother Victoria Losea who was a housewife, and father Tiburelo Medina who was a silversmith.

She was five years and several months old when her father drove her to a hospital in Pisco; the doctors initially believed that Lina had a tumor, due to her abdominal size, but it was then revealed that she was seven months pregnant. Many countries were interested in covering the story; the newspaper “San Antonio Light” reported that a midwife association in Peru wanted Lina to be admitted to a national maternity hospital, while an American movie studio had offered $5,000 for filming rights.

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Lina gave birth to her son Gerardo via caesarean section, and the doctors then learned that her sexual organs were fully mature; Gerardo weighed 6lbs (2.7kgs), and was named after Lina’s doctor,

The boy’s father

The identity of Gerardo’s father remains undisclosed. It was widely believed in Peru that Lina had been raped, and her father was even arrested on suspicion that he had done it, but was released as no evidence had been provided to support this. Lina hasn’t revealed the name of her son’s father to this day, and it’s believed that she might not actually know it.

Although the boy lived with Lina and believed that she was his sister, he was eventually raised by Lina’s doctor Gerardo Lozada; he had no health issues while growing up, but was 40 when he died from bone marrow disease in 1979.

Lina’s career

Lina matriculated from local high school in 1952, and although she hasn’t spoken about her further education, it’s believed that she studied at a medical school, from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1956.

Lina was then employed at Dr. Gerardo Lozada’s clinic as a secretary, and was thus also able to spend more time with her son.

YouTube videos

Numerous videos about Lina have been uploaded onto YouTube by various users, with most of these covering her strange pregnancy, while others aim to provide additional details about her later life. We’re going to mention three of the most popular YouTube vides about Lina, which’ve contributed to her internet popularity.

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Her #1 video “World’s Youngest Mother, Age 5 Lina Medina” has been watched more than 20 million times since 19 April 2014, when it was uploaded by Worlds Biggest; it aims to cover Lina’s pregnancy, as well as her son’s later life.

Lina’s second most popular video – “Top 5 Youngest Mother In The World” – was uploaded by 100M on 6 November 2020, and has been watched over 6.4 million times; it covers Lina’s pregnancy, as well as the pregnancies of four other girls who were less than 10 years old when they gave birth.

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Her #3 video, “Así luce hoy la madre más joven de la historia. Tenía 5 años” was uploaded by Badabun on 7 January 2018, and has since been watched close to six million times; it’s a Spanish-language video about Lina, her pregnancy and her son’s (supposed) father.

Love life and relationships

Lina’s love life remains a mystery to this day, and she’s even been able to keep the identity of her son’s father hidden.

She married non-celebrity Peruvian Raul Jurado sometime in the ‘70s, and gave birth to their son in 1972 – Lina had a normal pregnancy, and didn’t have problems giving birth. She hasn’t spoken about how and when she and Raul met, though most of her fans believe that he was her high school sweetheart; it’s also believed that Raul passed away sometime in the first half of the 2010s, but as Lina’s staying away from the media’s attention, this hasn’t been confirmed.

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There are also many people on the internet who claim that they know Lina, and that she and Raul divorced in the second half of the ‘80s; these same people claim that she met another man when she was 55, and that the two eventually married, but none of this has been addressed by her.

Lina seems to be married to Raul Jurado as of April 2023, and they have a son together, while she also has a son to whom she gave birth when she was five.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Lina’s never been interested in making money out of her story, and has turned down numerous offers from newspapers and magazines, including “Reuters” in 2002.

It’s still today believed by many doctors and experts that Lina’s pregnancy was a hoax, but a number of doctors have still been able to prove that it was true, thanks to X rays and biopsies; the only photo that can be found on the internet about the entire case features Lina when she was seven and a half months pregnant, and was standing naked.

She grew up being physically active and took part in various activities while attending a local high school, while she was also an avid dancer.

Lina was passionate about travelling during her 20s and 30s, but then preferred the peace of her home over flying to other countries.

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Height, eyes and wealth

Lina’s 89 years old. She has brown eyes and medium long grey hair, is 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall and weighs around 130lbs (60kgs).

Lina’s net worth’s been estimated at over $100,000, as of April 2023.

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The Untold Truth of Emma Watson’s Brother – Alex Watson

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Who is Alex Watson?

The Wealth of Alex Watson

As of early-2020, Alex Watson has a net worth estimated to be Alexander Watson was born on 15 December 1992, in Paris, France, and is best known for being the brother of actress Emma Watson who found fame in the “Harry Potter” film franchise, playing the role of Hermione Granger. The siblings appeared together in a Burberry fashion campaign, and he’s also made several cameo appearances in the “Harry Potter” films.

over $1 million, earned through success in his various endeavors, including modeling and acting projects.

He may benefit from the success of his sister, as Emma has a net worth estimated to be over $80 million.

Early Life and Cameo Appearances

While Alex was born in Paris, the family later moved to England where he and Emma grew up. He lived mostly away from the spotlight, and his skill with the French language started to decline as he became more accustomed to living in the UK. His life started to shift when Emma desired to pursue an acting career. While he didn’t have the same interests, he supported her endeavors as she began training, and appearing in a few stage productions.

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Emma’s fame increased significantly after she was cast in the “Harry Potter” film series as one of the lead characters, Hermione Granger. While the producers didn’t initially think that the film would be the worldwide phenomenon it is today, many of its cast members would grow close like family.

More Cameos and Modeling

The crew also involved other family members such as Alex, who would appear in a cameo as a student in the first film “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. The film is based on the JK Rowling novel of the same name, following the story of the titular Harry Potter as he goes on magical adventures with his closest friends.

The first installment was a huge critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2001.

They later followed it up by continuing the book series, with “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”, and Alex had another cameo in the film as a student. The 2002 film is based on the book of the same name, and continues the adventures of Harry Potter during his second year as a student of Hogwarts. In the film, he discovers that the Chamber of Secrets in the school has been opened, leading to a monster being set loose. The film, like its predecessor, was an enormous success, becoming the second highest-grossing film of the year, only behind “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”.

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For the next two “Harry Potter” films, Alex was busy with other projects so he didn’t make an appearance. He later returned to make a short cameo in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” – in that installment, Harry Potter and his best friends go through their fifth year at Hogwarts, and deal with the aftermath of the return of feared wizard Lord Voldemort.

Burberry Campaign

In 2010, media outlets reported that Alex would be partnering his sister in a campaign for the fashion brand Burberry. He didn’t initially plan to model for the brand, but while he was looking for something to wear for a “Harry Potter” premiere, he was approached by the staff who quickly signed him for a modeling gig.

Emma was there to help him as she has more experience with modeling projects. He notes that there is a lot of tension during auditions for models, as everyone is on edge trying to get a job. It didn’t seem that he continued with modeling after that gig, as he expressed no interest in being overly concerned about his physical appearance.

Personal Life

Following Alex’s appearance with Burberry, there has been no news about him. He’s been more private about his career and personal endeavors so nothing is known in terms of any romances. There are social media pages under his name, though they appear to be fan accounts, and unrelated to him.

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His sister is known to be a universalist though it is not known if he shares the same beliefs.

Sister – Emma Watson

Despite having only acted in plays before her big-screen debut, Emma Watson flourished in her role as Hermione Granger, launching her to international star status. While working on the franchise, she gained numerous other projects, and after the end of the “Harry Potter” films, she went on to star in other projects.

In the 2010s, she appeared in notable films such as “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, “The Bling Ring”, and “This is the End”.

In 2017, she played the character Belle in the live-action adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast”, and also appeared in the film adaptation of “Little Women”, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Emma Watson’s Recent Projects

In 2014, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts rewarded Emma with the British Artist of the Year Award. She hasn’t yet taken any new film projects following her appearance in “Little Women”. While working on her acting career, she continued to pursue her education, and completed a degree in English literature in 2014.

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She’s also been doing modeling work, such as for campaigns with Lancome and Burberry.

Emma’s been very vocal about issues of human rights and gender equality – she is a UN Women Goodwill ambassador, and is responsible for helping launch the campaign HeForShe, the goal being for genders to work towards having gender equality. She’s been very active in work for women’s rights, recently establishing a legal advice line to help women who’ve suffered sexual harassment at the workplace.

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