Topline: Police say the suspect was caught on home security cameras chasing her wife with a knife moments before the murder.
Published: March 28, 2025 7:00 am ET
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Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi (via State Citizen Security Force in Baja California)
SAN DIEGO, CA — A woman accused of allegedly stabbing her wife to death over a month ago was captured in Mexico and more details have been released on the horrific murder.
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 53, will plead not guilty to the charge of murder in connection with the stabbing death of her spouse, Rebecca Marodi, 49, a Cal Fire Captain, Deputy District Attorney Maura Duffey announced on Wednesday.
Mexican authorities arrested Olejniczak Marodi last Sunday near a hotel in the Ferrocarril neighborhood of Mexicali after a binational five-week search.
She was successfully handed over to United States Marshals Service and returned to San Diego County to face charges.
As previously reported by CrimeCod.com, the San Diego Sheriff’s Office said the homicide occurred on the evening of February 17, 2025, in the 20200 block of Rancho Villa Road, in Ramona, California.
At approximately 8:58 p.m., a radio call went out regarding an assault with a deadly weapon at a residence in the area.
Upon arrival, deputies found Rebecca Marodi inside her home with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said in a news released they believed that the victim knew the perpetrator and were treating this case as a potential domestic violence incident.
On February 19, an autopsy concluded that the cause of death was “stab wounds or sharp force entries,” categorizing the manner of death as homicide.
Officials announced the very next day that Yolanda Marodi was the prime suspect, calling the moment “a significant development.”
Yolanda Marodi and Rebecca Marodi in a photo dated November 18, 2023. (via Facebook)
According to KGTV, Yolanda pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of her then-husband, James Olejniczak Jr., in October 2000. Yolanda served 13 years in prison.
Court papers filed in San Diego County Superior Court allege
ABC affiliate KGO-TV reported that Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi allegedly stabbed her wife after learning she planned to leave her, and that the murder was captured on a Ring home security camera, according to court records.
In the footage, Rebecca Marodi is heard yelling “Yolanda! Please..I don’t want to die” while she was chased by Yolanda Olejniczak Marodiran across a patio, an arrest warrant said.
Yolanda replied, “You should have thought about that before,” and is seen standing in front of Rebecca with a knife in her right hand, the warrant alleged.
Rebecca then asks for Yolanda to call 911 multiple times, and the two enter the residence. Several minutes later, the front-door camera captures Yolanda loading “pets, random items and some luggage” into a car while wearing different clothes, arrest records show.
Investigators learned from Rebecca’s mother that her daughter had told Yolanda that she was leaving and ending their marriage about a week before her death, the warrant says.
“I want to thank the Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation and law enforcement on both sides of the border for locating and arresting this dangerous defendant so she could be returned to San Diego and face justice for this deadly crime,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “Rebecca Marodi was a beloved Fire Captain who devoted her life to protecting others, including recently battling the Eaton fire near Los Angeles and the capture of her killer will begin the court process with today’s arraignment. When the U.S. Marshals’ San Diego Fugitive Task force is looking for violent criminals, they can run but they can’t hide as we saw in this case. This intimate partner homicide is a reminder that there are resources out there for individuals who are in fear for their safety.”
Yolanda is being held without bail and if convicted faces 25 years-to-life in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Wife Accused of Murdering Cal Fire Captain Caught in Mexico; Will Plead Not Guilty
Police say the suspect was caught on home security cameras chasing her wife with a knife moments before the murder.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 28, 2025 7:00 am ET
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi (via State Citizen Security Force in Baja California)
SAN DIEGO, CA — A woman accused of allegedly stabbing her wife to death over a month ago was captured in Mexico and more details have been released on the horrific murder.
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 53, will plead not guilty to the charge of murder in connection with the stabbing death of her spouse, Rebecca Marodi, 49, a Cal Fire Captain, Deputy District Attorney Maura Duffey announced on Wednesday.
Mexican authorities arrested Olejniczak Marodi last Sunday near a hotel in the Ferrocarril neighborhood of Mexicali after a binational five-week search.
She was successfully handed over to United States Marshals Service and returned to San Diego County to face charges.
As previously reported by CrimeCod.com, the San Diego Sheriff’s Office said the homicide occurred on the evening of February 17, 2025, in the 20200 block of Rancho Villa Road, in Ramona, California.
At approximately 8:58 p.m., a radio call went out regarding an assault with a deadly weapon at a residence in the area.
Upon arrival, deputies found Rebecca Marodi inside her home with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said in a news released they believed that the victim knew the perpetrator and were treating this case as a potential domestic violence incident.
On February 19, an autopsy concluded that the cause of death was “stab wounds or sharp force entries,” categorizing the manner of death as homicide.
Officials announced the very next day that Yolanda Marodi was the prime suspect, calling the moment “a significant development.”
Yolanda Marodi and Rebecca Marodi in a photo dated November 18, 2023. (via Facebook)
According to KGTV, Yolanda pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of her then-husband, James Olejniczak Jr., in October 2000. Yolanda served 13 years in prison.
Court papers filed in San Diego County Superior Court allege
ABC affiliate KGO-TV reported that Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi allegedly stabbed her wife after learning she planned to leave her, and that the murder was captured on a Ring home security camera, according to court records.
In the footage, Rebecca Marodi is heard yelling “Yolanda! Please..I don’t want to die” while she was chased by Yolanda Olejniczak Marodiran across a patio, an arrest warrant said.
Yolanda replied, “You should have thought about that before,” and is seen standing in front of Rebecca with a knife in her right hand, the warrant alleged.
Rebecca then asks for Yolanda to call 911 multiple times, and the two enter the residence. Several minutes later, the front-door camera captures Yolanda loading “pets, random items and some luggage” into a car while wearing different clothes, arrest records show.
Investigators learned from Rebecca’s mother that her daughter had told Yolanda that she was leaving and ending their marriage about a week before her death, the warrant says.
“I want to thank the Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation and law enforcement on both sides of the border for locating and arresting this dangerous defendant so she could be returned to San Diego and face justice for this deadly crime,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “Rebecca Marodi was a beloved Fire Captain who devoted her life to protecting others, including recently battling the Eaton fire near Los Angeles and the capture of her killer will begin the court process with today’s arraignment. When the U.S. Marshals’ San Diego Fugitive Task force is looking for violent criminals, they can run but they can’t hide as we saw in this case. This intimate partner homicide is a reminder that there are resources out there for individuals who are in fear for their safety.”
Yolanda is being held without bail and if convicted faces 25 years-to-life in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Wife Accused of Murdering Cal Fire Captain Caught in Mexico; Will Plead Not Guilty
Police say the suspect was caught on home security cameras chasing her wife with a knife moments before the murder.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 28, 2025 7:00 am ET
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi (via State Citizen Security Force in Baja California)
SAN DIEGO, CA — A woman accused of allegedly stabbing her wife to death over a month ago was captured in Mexico and more details have been released on the horrific murder.
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 53, will plead not guilty to the charge of murder in connection with the stabbing death of her spouse, Rebecca Marodi, 49, a Cal Fire Captain, Deputy District Attorney Maura Duffey announced on Wednesday.
Mexican authorities arrested Olejniczak Marodi last Sunday near a hotel in the Ferrocarril neighborhood of Mexicali after a binational five-week search.
She was successfully handed over to United States Marshals Service and returned to San Diego County to face charges.
As previously reported by CrimeCod.com, the San Diego Sheriff’s Office said the homicide occurred on the evening of February 17, 2025, in the 20200 block of Rancho Villa Road, in Ramona, California.
At approximately 8:58 p.m., a radio call went out regarding an assault with a deadly weapon at a residence in the area.
Upon arrival, deputies found Rebecca Marodi inside her home with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said in a news released they believed that the victim knew the perpetrator and were treating this case as a potential domestic violence incident.
On February 19, an autopsy concluded that the cause of death was “stab wounds or sharp force entries,” categorizing the manner of death as homicide.
Officials announced the very next day that Yolanda Marodi was the prime suspect, calling the moment “a significant development.”
Yolanda Marodi and Rebecca Marodi in a photo dated November 18, 2023. (via Facebook)
According to KGTV, Yolanda pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of her then-husband, James Olejniczak Jr., in October 2000. Yolanda served 13 years in prison.
Court papers filed in San Diego County Superior Court allege
ABC affiliate KGO-TV reported that Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi allegedly stabbed her wife after learning she planned to leave her, and that the murder was captured on a Ring home security camera, according to court records.
In the footage, Rebecca Marodi is heard yelling “Yolanda! Please..I don’t want to die” while she was chased by Yolanda Olejniczak Marodiran across a patio, an arrest warrant said.
Yolanda replied, “You should have thought about that before,” and is seen standing in front of Rebecca with a knife in her right hand, the warrant alleged.
Rebecca then asks for Yolanda to call 911 multiple times, and the two enter the residence. Several minutes later, the front-door camera captures Yolanda loading “pets, random items and some luggage” into a car while wearing different clothes, arrest records show.
Investigators learned from Rebecca’s mother that her daughter had told Yolanda that she was leaving and ending their marriage about a week before her death, the warrant says.
“I want to thank the Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation and law enforcement on both sides of the border for locating and arresting this dangerous defendant so she could be returned to San Diego and face justice for this deadly crime,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “Rebecca Marodi was a beloved Fire Captain who devoted her life to protecting others, including recently battling the Eaton fire near Los Angeles and the capture of her killer will begin the court process with today’s arraignment. When the U.S. Marshals’ San Diego Fugitive Task force is looking for violent criminals, they can run but they can’t hide as we saw in this case. This intimate partner homicide is a reminder that there are resources out there for individuals who are in fear for their safety.”
Yolanda is being held without bail and if convicted faces 25 years-to-life in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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