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Wife Of California Fire Captain Pleads Guilty To 2025 Stabbing Murder

Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 54, pleaded guilty Tuesday in San Diego County to second-degree murder over the Feb. 17, 2025, stabbing death of her wife, Cal Fire captain Rebecca "Becky" Marodi, 49, at their Ramona home.[1]

She admitted in court that she has a prior serious felony conviction for the 2000 stabbing death of her then-husband, James Joseph Olejniczak.[1] She served prison time from 2003 to 2013 for that conviction.[1] Investigators say she fled to Mexico after the 2025 killing and was arrested at a hotel in Mexicali before being returned to U.S. custody.[1] Sentencing is scheduled for September 2, 2026.[1]

Rebecca "Becky" Marodi, 49, a longtime Cal Fire captain, was fatally stabbed on February 17, 2025, at the couple's home in Ramona.[1]

  1. Fox News
Courts & Legal Violent Crime
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📌 Key Facts

  • On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 54, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in San Diego County court.
  • Victim Rebecca "Becky" Marodi, 49, a longtime Cal Fire captain, was fatally stabbed on February 17, 2025, at the couple’s home in Ramona, California.
  • As part of the plea, Yolanda admitted a prior serious felony conviction for the 2000 stabbing death of her then-husband, James Joseph Olejniczak, for which she served prison time from 2003 to 2013.
  • Investigators say Yolanda fled to Mexico after the 2025 killing and was arrested at a hotel in Mexicali before being returned to U.S. custody.
  • Sentencing in the Rebecca Marodi murder case is scheduled for September 2, 2026.

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