Full Breakdown
California Fire Captain’s Murder: Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi Pleads Guilty
8/8/2026, 8:57:06 PM
The Fatal Stabbing and Guilty Plea
On February 17, 2025, Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, a 49-year-old Cal Fire captain, was found dead in the couple’s Ramona home with multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest and back, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 54, was arrested in Mexicali on March 22, 2025 and later returned to U.S. custody. She entered a plea of guilty to second-degree murder on August 4, admitting she used a knife in the killing. The plea reduced the charge from first-degree murder as part of a deal with the victim’s family.
Background: Prior Conviction and Relationship
Marodi’s murder follows a 2000 stabbing of her first husband, James Joseph Olejniczak, in Fontana. She pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2003, was sentenced in 2004 to 11 years, and served until 2013. The two spouses had been married for just over two years at the time of the 2025 homicide; Marodi had told Olejniczak Marodi a week earlier that she intended to end the marriage.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 17, 2025 | Rebecca Marodi stabbed to death at home in Ramona. |
| March 22, 2025 | Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi arrested in the Ferrocarril neighborhood of Mexicali. |
| August 4 | Pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in San Diego Superior Court. |
| September 2 (scheduled) | Sentencing hearing; faces 36 years to life in state prison. |
Data & Statistics
- Ages: Victim 49; perpetrator 54.
- Injuries: Multiple stab wounds; sources list neck, chest, back and, in one account, abdomen.
- Sentencing range: 36 years to life, as set by California law for second-degree murder.
Official Statements & Responses
Cal Fire released a statement noting that “her legacy of mentorship, service and dedication will be felt for years to come.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Wound locations: Most reports cite neck, chest and back; the Los Angeles Times warrant also mentions abdomen.
- Number of wounds: One source specifies 23 stab wounds, while others refer only to “multiple” injuries. The exact count remains unconfirmed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Becky was a kind person and paid the absolute price for that by trusting the wrong person,” — Andrea Winter, a friend of Rebecca
- “Her legacy of mentorship, service and dedication will be felt for years to come,” — Cal Fire, veteran
- “Becky has this magnetic personality and everybody liked her. I think Yolanda was very jealous of that and that Becky was this bright light.” — Andrea Winter, a friend of Rebecca
- “The consideration of many factors, maybe the most important of which was the desire of the victim’s family for closure,” — Jared Coleman, deputy district attorney
What’s Next
A sentencing hearing is set for September 2, where Olejniczak Marodi could receive a term of 36 years to life in a California state prison.
