A California woman who previously served prison time for the fatal stabbing of her husband has admitted to killing her wife more than two decades later. Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 54, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the 2025 death of Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, a longtime Cal Fire captain.
Rebecca Marodi Was Killed at Her California Home
Rebecca Marodi, 49, was fatally stabbed at the couple’s home in Ramona, San Diego County, in February 2025. The veteran firefighter had worked for Cal Fire for more than 30 years and had recently been involved in firefighting efforts during the devastating Eaton wildfire in Southern California.
Investigators said the couple had been married for about two years. Authorities responded to the home on February 17 after receiving a report of an assault involving a deadly weapon. Rebecca was found suffering from multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities later determined that Yolanda was the primary suspect. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Rebecca attempting to escape while calling for help as her wife pursued her with a knife.
Suspect Fled to Mexico After the Killing
Following the killing, Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi left the United States and traveled to Mexico. A search involving authorities on both sides of the border continued for several weeks.
She was eventually arrested in Mexicali in March 2025 and returned to San Diego County to face the murder charge. At the time of her initial court appearance, she pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors later reached an agreement with the victim’s family that resulted in the charge being reduced from first-degree murder to second-degree murder.
Earlier Husband’s Death Came More Than 20 Years Ago
The case took an unexpected turn when investigators discovered that Marodi had a previous conviction involving the death of her then-husband, James “Jim” Olejniczak.
In 2000, she fatally stabbed Olejniczak in Southern California. She later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and served years in prison before her release in 2013.
Friends of Rebecca reportedly did not know about Yolanda’s violent criminal history before Rebecca’s death.
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2026. She faces a prison sentence of 36 years to life for the murder of her wife.
