Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 54, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the February 2025 stabbing death of her wife, Rebecca "Becky" Marodi, 49, a Cal Fire captain who had fought the deadly Eaton blaze. Surveillance video reportedly shows Rebecca fleeing and screaming, while Yolanda—seen with a knife and blood on her arms—allegedly replied, "You should have thought of that before." Yolanda fled to Mexico after the attack, was arrested in Mexicali in March, and had previously served prison time for a 2000 voluntary manslaughter conviction. She faces 36 years to life at her September 2 sentencing.
California Woman Pleads Guilty in Stabbing Death of Cal Fire Captain; Had Earlier Manslaughter Conviction
Rebecca Marodi was stabbed to death by her wife.Photograph: Riverside County Fire Department
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 54, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the February 2025 stabbing death of her wife, Rebecca "Becky" Marodi, 49, a decorated Cal Fire captain who had helped battle the deadly Eaton blaze the month before. The case drew attention not only for the brutality of the attack but because Yolanda previously served prison time for the fatal 2000 stabbing of her then-husband.
Incident and Evidence
Authorities found Rebecca Marodi at the couple's home in Ramona, near San Diego, with multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest and back. Investigators say home security video captured Rebecca running from the house and screaming, "Yolanda! Please! I don't want to die!" Surveillance footage reportedly shows Yolanda holding a knife, with blood on her arms; investigators say she responded, "You should have thought of that before."
Flight and Arrest
According to the arrest warrant and law-enforcement records, Yolanda was seen loading pets, personal items and luggage into an SUV and left the area roughly 75 minutes after the attack. Department of Homeland Security records indicate she crossed the nearby border into Mexico. Mexican officers arrested her at a hotel in Mexicali in March 2025 and she was later transferred to U.S. marshals in San Diego.
Prior Conviction
Reporting following the killing revealed Yolanda had served prison time from 2004 to 2013 after being convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the 2000 stabbing death of her then-husband, Jim Olejniczak. Authorities and friends say both that husband and Rebecca had recently told Yolanda they intended to end their marriages.
Friends' Comments and Context
"Yolanda was very insecure," said Andrea Winter, a friend of Rebecca's. "Becky has this magnetic personality and everybody liked her. I think Yolanda was very jealous of that and that Becky was this bright light."
Winter also described what she called controlling, isolating behavior by Yolanda and said Rebecca had not been aware of her wife's prior conviction.
Legal Status
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi initially pleaded not guilty after her March arrest but changed her plea this week and admitted to second-degree murder. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2 and faces a possible term of 36 years to life in California state prison.
Note: All facts in this article reflect reporting from law-enforcement records and media accounts available at the time of publication.
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