Rebecca, Selena, & Christina

The Actress

The Queen of Tejano Music

The Rising Star

All Three beautiful talented women rising and shining into the limelight until their lives were taken away by the bullets of their obsessive deranged fans.

Rebecca Schaeffer

Rebecca Schaeffer was born on November 6, 1967, in Eugene, Oregon to her parents Danna Schaeffer, a writer and a professor, and her father Dr. Benson Schaeffer, a child psychologist.

When she was a teenager, Rebecca was destined to go after her career as an actress. She started off modeling in catalogs then she traveled to New York City with her permission to go and follow her dreams as an actress. While she was in New York, she landed her first acting role on the soap opera One Life to Live as Annie Barnes, continued on with modeling career while she was in New York she also had to work as a waitress to make extra money, in 1985 she auditioned and later landed the main role as Patti Russell in the CBS sitcom My Sister Sam.

The show was such a phenomenal success that Schaeffer would receive fan letters from fans who watch the show. According to her friend Sue Cameron, Schaeffer has been writing back to her fans but Sue warned Schaeffer not to respond to any fan letters because they're "not your friends". Despite of Sue's advice, Schaeffer didn't think of it as a big deal until July 18, 1989.

Selena Quintanilla-Perez

Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas to her parents Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla Jr. Her father Abraham used to be in a music band until he retired. Selena was the youngest of her siblings: Her older brother A.B and her sister Suzette. At a young age, Abraham noticed her singing abilities and knew Selena had a gift. Abraham decided to form a family band called Selena Y Los Dinos making Selena the lead singer, A.B., the guitarist, and Suzette, the drummer. Abraham would force his children to rehearse every single day in the Quintanilla home. The band would perform at birthday parties, weddings, and their family restaurant PapaGayos until it was shut down due to bankruptcy. Abraham had to file for bankruptcy, they were evicted from their home and had to stay at relatives homes. Abraham starts to encourage Selena to sing songs in Spanish even though Selena didn't like Spanish-speaking music and her family only spoken English (despite of their Mexican heritage) her father thought it would best for her to resonate with the Latino community. Selena started to learn Spanish by listening to Spanish-speaking music, reading lyrics from Spanish songs, watching Spanish soap operas, and Spanish media.

At 17, she completed her education with a high school diploma at The American School of Correspondence in Chicago, Illinois was planning to go to Pacific Western University to major business administration but Selena wanted to continue her music career. At 18, her father refurbished a tour bus, Selena and her family band Los Dinos went on tour to make more money. In 1984, she recorded her first LP record album for Freddie Records and started touring around South Texas to promote her LP record. She made an appearance on the Johnny Canales Show and got discovered by musician Rudy Trevino, founder of the Tejano Music Awards, where she won her first award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1987 and for nine consecutive years after. José Behar, music executive of EMI Latin watched Selena performed at 1989 Tejano Music Awards and knew he wanted to sign her. She signed with EMI Latin in 1989 and later released her first album Selena.

After her self titled debut album released, Selena was contacted by Coca-Cola to be a spokesperson. In 1990, her second album Ven Conmigo was released.

Selena has changed her image from a young songstess to Queen of Tejano music. Her fashion sense has attracted fans alike and made herself as a style icon. Abraham received a phone call from Yolanda Saldivar, a nurse from San Antonio and a huge fan of Selena wanted to start a fan club for Selena in San Antonio. At first, Abraham was hesitant with Yolanda starting a fan club but he thought why not for the best for Selena and allows Yolanda to create a fan club.

Selena met and fell in love with the band's guitarist Chris Perez. The two started secretly dating without the band noticing them until Selena's sister Suzette noticed the two flirting with each other. She told on their father Abraham about what was going on with them. Abraham wasn't proud of the fact of them dating he forced Chris off the bus and threatens Selena to disband the group if she continues on her relationship with Chris. On April 2, 1992, Selena and Chris decided to get married in a Texas courthouse. The news of their marriage quickly spread through Spanish radio stations, but in the end, Abraham had no choice but to accept her daughters happiness and accept Chris as a part of the Quintanilla family. After her marriage with Chris and her family accepting it, Chris rejoins the band and later started recording Selena's next album. Selena's third album, Entre a Mi Mundo was released on May 6, 1992. The album received critical acclaim. Later the songs from her third album would appear on the Selena Live album which earn her a Grammy nomination.

In 1993, Selena earned a Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album for her album Live! at the 36th Grammy Awards.

Selena wanted to work on her dreams as a fashion designer. Selena teamed up with fashion designer Martin Gomez to start her own clothing line. Selena opened up her own boutique called Selena Etc. with her as CEO and Yolanda Saldivar as store manager. By the end of 1994, Selena Etc. had held two fashion shows to showcase their clothing line.

Selena Etc. was located in Corpus Christi, Texas. She later opened at San Antonio, Texas and Monterrey, Mexico.

Selena was in talks with EMI on making her first crossover album. Something that Selena has longed for in her career. Just when Selena was on the verge of her success and on her way to making to her first English language album, she was received bad news on what's going on with her fan club and her boutique. Abraham noticed that he found discrepancies in Selena's business, Saldivar was writing checks to herself and stealing money from Selena's fan club and her boutique. They confronted Saldivar with the checks signed by Saldivar they found and other documents showing other discrepancies. Saldivar deny that she has stolen money from the fan club or from the boutique and has "proof" that she has documents that shows she has never stolen anything from Selena and her fans. Abraham threatened Yolanda with the Police and warned Yolanda not step in front of Q Productions and Selena Etc. Selena had to do the right thing and let Yolanda go.

Christina Grimmie

Christina Victoria Grimmie was born on March 12, 1994, at Evesham Township, New Jersey to her parents Tina and Albert Grimmie. Her mother, Tina Grimmie was a receptionist and a three-time cancer survivor, and her father, Albert Grimmie, a Verizon Communications. Unlike Selena, Albert noticed Christina's singing abilities. At 15, Grimmie started her own YouTube channel using her YouTube channel name zeldaxlove64. She posted her first YouTube video singing a cover of Hannah Montana's "Don't Wanna Be Torn".

Grimmie's first video (uploaded on July 17, 2009)

After she uploaded her first video on YouTube, Grimmie continued to upload more cover songs requested by fans like Miley Cyrus's "Party in the U.S.A", Jason Mraz "I Won't Give Up" and Nelly "Just A Dream". Her videos later became viral. Just when her videos went viral, she maintained a huge fan following on social media and gain more subscribers on her YouTube page. Christina Grimmie had made appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show, the UNICEF charity concert, and became the opening act of Selena Gomez & The Scene We Own the Night tour. Gomez's mother Mandy Teefey noticed Grimmie's talent and later Teefey and her husband became her managers. Selena Gomez also became her mentor and friend to Christina.

Despite her singing career, Grimmie was an avid gamer and an anime fan. She posted on Twitch playing her favorite game The Legend of Zelda and which explains her YouTube name zeldaxlove64. In 2014, Christina Grimmie audition on NBC's The Voice. During the blind audition, She performed Miley Cyrus "Wrecking Ball".

Grimmie’s The Voice Blind Audition

All four judges (Usher, Shakira, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton) turned their chairs. After four turned their chairs, they offered Christina a chance to join their team. Christina joined Adam's team. Grimmie made it in 3rd place which shocked fans and of course Carson Daly who called it a fixed. But that didn't stop Christina working on her music. After the Voice, Grimmie has been offered to be signed by 222 records (Adams Levine's label) and Lil Wayne offered Grimmie to be signed to Young Money Entertainment. She later signed Island Records and went on tour with the Voice fellow contestants. Grimmie teamed up with Disney star Dove Cameron, and YouTube rapper Baby Kaely for the song "What A Girl Is", a girl power pop ballad song to empower the definition of being a girl. The music video premiered on Disney Channel featuring Youtuber MissRemiAshten, Alex Aiono and Cody Wise.

Her second EP album Side A was released on Feburary 21, 2016, which contains four tracks "Snow White" "Anybody's You" "Deception" and "Without Him". The EP album were given and sold at Grimmie's tour appearances and shows. The EP was released independently and debuted at number 25 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart in the US.

Final Moments

After the cancellation of My Sister Sam, Rebecca Schaeffer has already completed her films: Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills, The End of Innocence, and Out of Time.

Selena performed at her last concert at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The Astrodome was filled with 60,000 fans. The live performance was recorded and later televised. Selena was almost finished recording her first English language album Dreaming of You.

Christina Grimme made a Snapchat video to let all her fans that she was in Florida performing with the band Before You Exit. The video was posted on her Twitter page.

July 18, 1989

Rebecca Schaeffer was getting ready for her audition for the role as Al Pacino's daughter in the film The Godfather part III. She was waiting for her script to arrive until she heard a buzz on the door believing it was the script for her audition (the intercom wasn't working). Rebecca opens the door to Robert John Brado, a 19-year-old fan of Rebecca Schaeffer from Tuscon, Arizona stops by to meet Rebecca at her apartment.

Robert introduced himself and claims that is a "fan" of Rebecca. Rebecca politely excused herself and told Brado how she appreciate him being a fan. They shake hands with each other, say their goodbyes and Brado leaves. Rebecca stays in her apartment and waits for her script to arrive. Brado arrives at the diner ordering some onion rings while he was check in his bag

Brado buzzed the on house again. Rebecca answers the door and sees Robert at her doorstep again. Rebecca wasn't in the mood to talk to him and kindly ask Brado to leave. Robert pulls his Ruger GP100 .357 handgun out of the bag shot Schaefer in the chest.

Schaeffer screams:

"Why? Why?"

Robert flees the scene leaving Rebecca alone lying on the floor bleeding outside of her home. A neighbor who heard the gunshot saw Rebecca on the floor bleeding, calls for help, and stays with her until ambulance arrives. Ambulance arrived to Schaeffer transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Rebecca Schaeffer was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after 3o minutes upon arriving at the hospital.

She was 21.

March 31, 1995

The night before March 31, 1995, Selena received a phone call from Yolanda at the Days Inn Motel. She called Selena to tell her she has the missing financial statements and samples for Selena's perfume line. She also tells Selena that she was “raped” in Mexico and asked her to come to the motel alone. The next day, the morning of March 31, Selena was dressed in jogging attire took Yolanda to the hospital to be examined. At the hospital, after Yolanda's examination, A nurse confronted Selena to tell her that there was no evidence that Yolanda was “raped”. Selena takes Yolanda back at the Days Inn Motel this time Selena putting her foot down and forcing Yolanda to give her the financial statements. Back at Room 158, Selena and Yolanda begin to argue about the missing bank statements when Selena couldn't find them in the room. It was the moment that Selena had enough with Yolanda and decides to take off the egg ring from her finger. Saldivar saw red pulls out the .38 special revolver out of her purse. Selena sees the weapon tries to flee out of the motel room until Yolanda pulls the trigger shot her right in her back. After Selena got shot, she exit Room 158 runs to find help.

Yolanda yells:

"Bitch!"

Selena scurries entered the motel's lobby screaming and pleading for help.

"Help me! Help me! I’ve been shot”

A Days Inn Motel Manager saw the critically wounded singer and ask who done this to her.

Selena said in a weak voice:

"Yolanda...Room 158"

A Days Inn Motel employee dials 911.

Days Inn Motel staff tried their best to save Selena until help arrives. Paramedics arrived at the Days Inn Motel Lobby at 11:52 am seeing Selena on the floor and transported her to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital. Selena Quintanilla-Perez was pronounced dead at the Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital at 1:05 pm.

She was 23.

June 10, 2016

Fans arrive at The Plaza Live before the concert was about to start. At the Plaza Live, there were no metal detectors, every bag was checked, no audience members were frisked or checked.

At 10 pm, after the performance was over, Christina Grimmie meets and greet her fans. One of the fans was Kevin James Liobel, a Best Buy tech associate whose a fan of Christina Grimmie.

According to fans who witnessed Kevin, they described him as looking nervous and downright creepy. After Grimmie takes her selfie with a fan which would be her last selfie with a fan. Grimmie sees Liobel greets and tries to hug him. Liobel approaches the singer. Just when Grimmie was about to give him a hug. Liobel pulls out a 9mm glock pistol shot Grimme twice on the chest and the head. When gunshots rang out, Christina Grimmie's Marcus spotted Liobel tackle him until Liobel shot himself in the head. Christina was lying on the floor bleeding from her head. A gentleman at the concert tried to perform CPR on Grimmie. Paramedics arrived to find Grimmie and Liobel lying on the ground. Kevin James Liobel was dead at the scene. Grimmie was transported to the Orlando Regional Medical Center but it was too late. Christina Grimmie was pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

She was 22.

Their Legacies

After the death of Rebecca Schaeffer, the cast of My Sister Sam reunited to honor her memory with a public service announcement. A year after Schaeffer's, a law was made to prevent stalking from celebrities. Moonlight Mile, a 2002 film that inspired by her murder. The film starred Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, and Susan Sarandon and also was directed by Brad Silberling who was Rebecca's boyfriend.

Moonlight Mile Film Trailer

Selena's fifth and final album Dreaming of You was released on July 18, 1995, four months after Selena's death, selling more than making the album double platinum becoming one of the most best-selling Latin albums of all time. Selena's life had been adapted twice in a 1997 film and a 2020 Netflix television two-part series. Actress and Singer Jennifer Lopez portrayed Selena in the 1995 film.

Christian Serratos portrayed as Selena in the Netflix two-part series.

After Selena's death,On April 12, 1995, George W. Bush, then the Governor of Texas, declared April 16 to be "Selena Day". The Quintanilla family and her husband Chris Perez have taken over boutique Selena Etc. until it was shut down in 2009. But they didn't stop Selena's legacy, the Quintanilla family built a Selena Museum in Corpus Christi, Texas, Madame Tussauds made a wax figure of Selena, Selena received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2021, the Quintanilla family accepted the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on her behalf.

Christina Grimme's family has decided to carry on her music and her legacy. They created and founded the Christina Grimmie Foundation. Tina Grimme uploaded a YouTube video on her daughter's YouTube channel to thank and announced her daughter's new music releases. Her four part music videos/short films based on her Side A EP Album were released on her YouTube channel after her death. Grimmie received her only Teen Choice Award in 2016, winning posthumously for Choice Web Star: Music although her name was mentioned and just the way they did with Cory Monteith. Her second and final album All is Vanity was released on June 9, 2017.

Two years after Grimmie's death, Tina Grimmie (Mama Grimmie) passed away from breast cancer.

Rest in Eternal Peace to these incredibly talented women

Coming Soon

REBECCA, SELENA, & CHRISTINA

I am working on a 10-part podcast documenting the lives of Rebecca Schaeffer, Selena Quintanilla-Perez, and Christina Grimmie, learn about the stories of their deranged obsessive killer fans who took their lives, and the two murder trials of Yolanda Saldivar and Robert John Bardo.

Source and Additional Resource Information

YouTube

ET.com

https://www.biography.com/musician/selena

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Grimmie

https://allthatsinteresting.com/rebecca-schaeffer

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a27116831/rebecca-schaeffer-murder/

https://time.com/5581981/youtube-christina-grimmie-influencer/

https://loriajohnston.medium.com/the-murder-of-actress-rebecca-schaeffer-459f4d3cd28b

https://selena.fandom.com/wiki/Selena