Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 54, pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder in the death of her wife, Rebecca "Becky" Marodi, 49, a Cal Fire captain who was found fatally stabbed at their Ramona home in February 2025. As part of the plea agreement, Marodi also admitted to a prior serious felony conviction for the 2000 stabbing death of her then-husband, James Joseph Olejniczak.
Rebecca Marodi, a veteran Cal Fire captain, suffered multiple stab wounds during the attack. Prosecutors stated that surveillance footage showed Yolanda Marodi pursuing her wife as she fled the home. Rebecca Marodi was pronounced dead at the scene. She had served more than 30 years with Cal Fire, beginning as a volunteer and most recently assisting with the Eaton Fire.
Authorities alleged that Marodi fled to Mexico following the killing, remaining there for over a month before her arrest in Mexicali. She was subsequently returned to the United States. Marodi had initially entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charge before changing her plea to guilty.
She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2. Cal Fire Riverside acknowledged Rebecca Marodi's death as a "profound loss," highlighting her "legacy of mentorship, service, and dedication."