An arrest warrant has been issued for Yolanda Marodi, also known as Yolanda Olejniczak, in connection with the murder of her wife, Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi, according to officials.
The warrant, filed in San Diego County Superior Court and released Monday, alleges that 54-year-old Yolanda Marodi fatally stabbed 49-year-old Rebecca Marodi at their home on February 17.
According to the warrant, the victim’s mother, Lorena Marodi, told investigators that Rebecca Marodi had informed Yolanda Marodi she was leaving her and ending their marriage approximately one week prior to her death. Lorena Marodi also provided Ring camera footage from the night of the incident.
The footage reportedly shows Rebecca Marodi being chased across the patio by Yolanda Marodi, with Rebecca Marodi screaming, “Yolanda! Please…I don’t want to die.” Yolanda Marodi allegedly responded, “You should have thought about that before,” and appeared to stand in front of Rebecca Marodi with a knife. The warrant states that both Rebecca Marodi’s back and Yolanda Marodi’s arms appeared to have blood on them. The video also captured Yolanda Marodi telling Rebecca Marodi to go inside, and then both women entering the residence.
Several minutes later, the front-door camera showed Yolanda Marodi, wearing different clothes, loading pets, items, and luggage into a silver Chevrolet Equinox. Approximately an hour later, the vehicle crossed the border into Mexico, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Investigators obtained a text message sent by Yolanda Marodi to an associate the day after the murder, in which she wrote, “Becky came home and told me she was leaving me, she met someone else, all the messages were lies. We had a big fight and I hurt her…I’m sorry.”
Authorities also revealed that this is not the first time Yolanda Marodi has been accused of killing a partner. In 2003, she pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for stabbing her then-husband to death and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Yolanda Marodi is believed to be driving a silver 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with California license plate 8BQJ420 and is traveling with a small white dog. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has alerted authorities on both sides of the border.
Cal Fire confirmed Rebecca Marodi’s death in a statement, noting her over 30 years of service. “The tragic loss of Captain Marodi is mourned by her family, friends and her CAL FIRE family,” the statement read.
Anyone with information regarding Yolanda Marodi’s location is urged to call 911 or the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330.
