San Diego, California – The woman accused of killing her wife, Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi, made her first in-person appearance in a San Diego County courtroom on Monday, following her extradition from Mexico.
Yolanda Olejniczak, 53, who has also been identified by law enforcement as Yolanda Marodi, had been hospitalized since her arrest in Baja California for an undisclosed medical condition. Authorities extradited her to the United States after a weeks-long international search.
Olejniczak is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the February killing of Marodi at their shared home in Ramona. During her initial arraignment at the end of March, she pleaded not guilty via video conference while still in a hospital bed. Monday marked her first appearance in court in person.
At Monday’s hearing, the court scheduled a readiness conference for June 11 and a preliminary hearing for the end of September.
The judge previously ordered that Olejniczak remain in custody without bail, citing the violent nature of the crime. According to court statements, Marodi, 49, was found with more than 30 stab or slash wounds. Authorities said home security footage captured the brutal attack, in which Marodi could be heard pleading for her life.
Investigators believe the killing occurred just one week after Marodi told Olejniczak she planned to end their two-year marriage. A source familiar with their relationship and a sheriff’s official confirmed the victim had expressed her intention to leave.
The judge also noted Olejniczak’s prior conviction for voluntary manslaughter, stemming from the fatal stabbing of her estranged husband in the early 2000s. If convicted in this case, Olejniczak could face 25 years to life in prison.
“This is a very tragic state of intimate partner violence,” Deputy District Attorney Mara Duffy said following Olejniczak’s arraignment. “The victim was a beloved member of the Cal Fire community, and I know this loss is being felt deeply.”
The case has drawn significant attention, especially within the firefighting community, where Marodi was widely respected.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, text BEGIN to 88788, or visit thehotline.org for support and resources.
