Early Life and Career:

• 1993: Rebecca began her firefighting journey as a volunteer with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). ​
• 1994-2000: She served as a seasonal Firefighter I in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, gaining valuable field experience.
• 2000: Rebecca was promoted to Firefighter II, reflecting her growing expertise and dedication. ​
• 2007: She continued to rise through the ranks, taking on more responsibilities within Cal Fire.
• 2022: Rebecca achieved the rank of Captain, a testament to her leadership and commitment to the department.

Personal Life:

• 2018: Rebecca Marodi and Yolanda Marodibegan dating
• 2022: June 17, 2022 Rebecca married Yolanda Marodi (also known as Yolanda Olejniczak). The couple shared their life in Ramona, California.
• 2025 (early February): Marital issues between Rebecca and Yolanda intensified. Rebecca had expressed concerns to friends and family about Yolanda’s behavior.

The Fatal Stabbing of Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi and the International Manhunt for Her Wife, Yolanda Marodi”

Suspect: Yolanda Marodi (also known as Yolanda Olejniczak)
Location: Ramona, California
Date of Incident: February 17, 2025

Events Leading Up to the Murder:

February 10, 2025

• Rebecca informed Yolanda that she wanted to end their marriage.
• Friends later reported that Yolanda reacted negatively and became increasingly possessive over the following days.

Day of the Murder: 

February 17, 2025

8:08 PM:

• Home surveillance footage captured Rebecca running out onto their patio, trying to flee from Yolanda.
• In the footage, Rebecca is heard pleading: “Yolanda! Please… I don’t want to die.”
• Yolanda chillingly responded: “You should have thought about that before.”

8:09 PM:

• Both women re-entered the house. This was the last time Rebecca was seen alive on camera.

8:20 PM:

• Surveillance footage showed Yolanda exiting the house wearing different clothes.
• She was seen loading their pets and luggage into a Chevrolet Equinox SUV.
• She left the scene shortly afterward.

8:58 PM:

• Rebecca’s mother called 911, reporting that her daughter had been stabbed.

First responders arrived and found Rebecca suffering from multiple stab wounds.

• Paramedics arrived and attempted to provide lifesaving aid to Rebecca. While paramedics were rendering aid, one of them recognized Rebecca as a Cal-Fire Captain from the Riverside County Cal-Fire Station.

9:14 PM:

• Rebecca succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene at approximately 2114 hours by Sharp Hospital Doctor Sterling. Deputies secured the scene and contacted the Homicide Unit.

Events After the Murder:

February 18, 2025

2:18 AM:

• Update from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office: The San Diego Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating a homicide that took place on the evening of February 17, 2025, in the 20200 block of Rancho Villa Road.
• At approximately 8:58 p.m., Ramona deputies responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon at a residence in the area. Upon arrival, they discovered a Hispanic female, approximately 50 years old, inside the home with multiple stab wounds.
• Deputies immediately administered life-saving measures until Cal Fire paramedics arrived. Despite their efforts, the victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

12:00 PM:

• The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officially identified the victim as Rebecca Marodi, 49, a 30-year firefighting veteran stationed in French Valley just north of Temecula.
• Sheriff’s Homicide Unit detectives have yet to identify a suspect or motive in the incident but noted that they believe that Marodi knew the perpetrator and are treating this case as a potential domestic violence incident.

4:08 PM:

• Update from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office: The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit has assumed responsibility for the investigation. Homicide detectives are actively working to contact persons of interest, identify a suspect, and locate and apprehend them as quickly as possible. Investigators suspect that the victim knew the perpetrator and are treating this case as a potential domestic violence incident. Currently, the motivation and circumstances surrounding the homicide remain unclear, and detectives are diligently gathering more information to establish the facts of the case.  Link

9:16 PM:

• A background check on the Equinox SUV revealed that at 9:16 p.m. (2116 hours), the Department of Homeland Security recorded Yolanda’s vehicle crossing into Mexico: Homeland Security records indicated that Yolanda’s vehicle crossed into Mexico approximately one hour after the incident.
• She later sent a message to an associate: “Becky came home and told me she was leaving me. She met someone else. All the messages were lies… I’m sorry.”

February 19, 2025

• The Forensic Doctor’s office performed the autopsy and concluded that the cause of death were injured by a white or sharp weapon, categorizing the form of death as homicide.

February 20, 2025

11:54 AM:

• Sheriff’s Homicide detectives issued an update they have identified a suspect in this case. The suspect is Yolanda Marodi, also known as Yolanda Olejniczak. Olejniczak is described as 5’2″ tall, weighing 166 lbs, with brown hair, and is 53 years old. Olejniczak’s current location is unknown. Link

February 21, 2025

• Authorities identified her wife, Yolanda Marodi, as the primary suspect in Rebecca’s death. Yolanda had a prior conviction for voluntary manslaughter in 2000, having served over 13 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of her then-husband.

Yolanda Ramos Olejniczak, born in 1972, and James Joseph Olejniczak, born in 1974, who served in the Marines at Camp Pendleton, married and had two children: a son, Joseph, who is 9 years old, and a daughter, Bethany, who is 4 years old.

June 10, 2000

• Yolanda Olenjniczak aka Yolanda Ramos had filed for divorce against James Olenjniczak, and the pair agreed to ‘mutual restraining orders

Murder of James Joseph Olejniczak (October 11, 2000)

Evening of October 10, 2000:

• James Olejniczak was last seen alive.

October 11, 2000

12:30 AM:

• James’s roommate found him dead inside their Fontana, California, home.
• Cause of Death: Stabbed in the chest multiple times.
• Authorities Notified: The Fontana Police Department and San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office responded.

October 11, 2000:

Morning:

• Fontana police sought Yolanda Olejniczak for questioning.
• Officers went to her residence at her grandfather’s Fallbrook, California home to locate her.
• She was already gone, along with her two children.
• Her grandfather stated that the last time he saw her was that morning.

October 12, 2000:

• Police determined that Yolanda withdrew her children from school without notifying anyone.
• She took all of her belongings, suggesting a planned disappearance.

October 13, 2000 – Missing Person’s Report Filed:

• Yolanda’s grandfather filed a missing person’s report with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
• Authorities launched a 10-day search for her and the children.

October 26, 2000

• Detectives arrested Yolanda aka Yolanda Mercedes Olejniczak — after the 28-year-old had attempted to flee with her two young children before turning herself into authorities.

October, 2000

• Yolanda Olejniczak was Charged with Voluntary Manslaughter. Serious Felony/Personally Used A Dangerous Or Deadly Weapon stabbing her then-husband, James Joseph Olejniczak, to death.

December 3, 2003

• Yolanda plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter

January 28, 2004:

• Yolanda was sentenced to 13 years in prison for manslaughter, plus possession of drugs or alcohol in jail as a second striker.
• Yolanda Olejniczak, who had more than 1,300 days credit for custodial time served before sentencing, was imprisoned from February 2004 until November 2013.

November, 2013

• Yolanda was released from Jail and began serving Parole.
  

2015:

• Yolanda was released from parole.

June 17, 2022: 

• Rebecca and Yolanda married on June 17, 2022,  despite her past, she was able to start a new life and marry Rebecca.

2025

February

Current Status of the Case

• Yolanda Marodi remains at large.
• Authorities believe she is hiding in Mexico and are coordinating with Mexican law enforcement to locate her.
• The FBI and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department have issued an arrest warrant and are asking for the public’s help finding her.

Key Takeaways 

• Rebecca’s murder was captured on home surveillance footage, showing her final moments. 
• Yolanda fled the country within 24 hours of the crime.
• She had previously killed a spouse but was able to rebuild her life and marry again.
• Authorities suspect she is in hiding in Mexico and are actively searching for her.

Declaration in Support of Arrest Warrant for Yolanda Marodi

Agency Case No.: SH25105813
Filed: February 21, 2025

Court: Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

Incident Details

February 17, 2025 – Ramona, California

Time: 8:58 PM

• The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Lorena Marodi, reporting that her daughter, Rebecca Marodi, had been stabbed at their home at 20224 Rancho Villa Road, Ramona.

Officers Arrived: Deputies arrived on the scene and found Rebecca Marodi suffering from multiple lacerations and stab wounds, including:

• Neck area
• Chest
• Abdomen

Medical Response:

• Paramedics attempted lifesaving efforts.

Victim Identification:

• A paramedic recognized Rebecca as a Cal Fire Captain from the Riverside County Station.

Death Pronouncement:

• 9:14 PM – Rebecca succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Sharp Hospital’s Dr. Sterling.

Initial Investigation

Lorena Marodi’s Statement:

• Rebecca was married to Yolanda Marodi.
• One week prior, Rebecca had told Yolanda that she was leaving her and ending their marriage.
• Lorena described Yolanda as someone who stayed at home most of the time, but she was now missing.
• Lorena provided Ring video surveillance to investigators.

Surveillance Footage Analysis (February 18, 2025, 2:00 AM)

Detectives reviewed Ring camera footage from the home, revealing the following sequence of events:

Patio Camera (8:08 PM – February 17, 2025)

• Rebecca seen running across the patio wearing a black shirt and gray shorts.
• Yolanda (wearing a yellow shirt) is seen chasing after Rebecca.
• Rebecca is heard screaming: “Yolanda! Please… I don’t want to die.”
• Rebecca reappears on camera, now with apparent blood on her back.
• Yolanda responds coldly:  “You should have thought about that before.”
• Yolanda is seen holding a knife in her right hand, standing in front of Rebecca.
• Rebecca repeatedly tells Yolanda to call 911.
• Blood is visible on Yolanda’s arms.

8:09 PM: Rebecca and Yolanda re-enter the house.

• This was the last time Rebecca was seen alive on video.

Front Door Camera (8:20 PM – February 17, 2025)

Yolanda is seen gathering:

• Pets
• Random items
• Luggage
• She loads them into a silver Chevrolet Equinox SUV.

8:22 PM:

• Yolanda leaves the residence, now wearing different clothing.

Escape to Mexico (February 17-18, 2025)

9:16 PM – February 17, 2025:

• Homeland Security logs Yolanda’s vehicle entering Mexico.

Post-Murder Text Message (February 18, 2025)

February 20, 2025 – A known associate of Yolanda contacted investigators.

• The associate provided a text message from Yolanda sent on February 18, 2025:
• “Becky came home and told me she was leaving me. She met someone else, all the messages were lies. We had a big fight and I hurt her… I’m sorry.”

Key Evidence Against Yolanda Marodi

• Video Surveillance Footage:
• Shows Yolanda chasing Rebecca with a knife.
• Captures Rebecca pleading for her life.
• Yolanda is seen covered in blood and refusing to call 911.
• Yolanda is identified as the attacker.

Motive:

• Rebecca had told Yolanda she was leaving the marriage.
• Flight to Mexico:
• Yolanda fled within hours of the murder.

Text Confession:

• Yolanda admitted to “hurting” Rebecca in a text message.

Conclusion and Arrest Warrant Request

Based on the evidence, video footage, witness testimony, and Yolanda Marodi’s own statements, I, Cecilia Markland, believe that:

Yolanda Marodi intentionally stabbed and murdered Rebecca Marodi.

WHEREFORE, I respectfully request the issuance of an arrest warrant for Yolanda Marodi for the following violations:

• Murder (Penal Code 187(a))
• Use of a Deadly Weapon (Penal Code 12022(b)(1))

Current Status

• As of March 2, 2025, Yolanda Marodi remains at large.
• Authorities believe she is in Mexico and are coordinating with international law enforcement to locate and arrest her.

Sources & Additional Information

• Superior Court of California, County of San Diego – Case File
• San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Reports
• Ring Camera Footage Analysis
• Homeland Security Records on Border Crossing