Chilling New Details Emerge In Murder Of Lesbian Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi As Manhunt Continues

Authorities have released new details in the murder of Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi, whose wife, Yolanda Marodi, is accused of fatally stabbing her before fleeing to Mexico. As the manhunt for Yolanda intensifies, law enforcement and experts weigh in on the challenges of bringing her to justice.

Marodi, 49, was discovered in her Ramona, California, home on February 17 with multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest, and abdomen. According to an arrest warrant filed in San Diego County Superior Court, surveillance footage captured the terrifying moments leading up to her death. In the video, authorities say Marodi can be seen running across the patio, pleading for her life. After Marodi said, “I don’t want to die,” Yolanda is said to have replied, “You should have thought about that before.”

According to the arrest warrant, the footage also shows Yolanda, whose legal name is also listed as Yolanda Olejniczak, holding a knife with apparent blood on her arms. Marodi is said to have pleaded with her to call 911 before the two disappeared from the camera’s view. Minutes later, Yolanda was seen loading pets, luggage, and belongings into a silver SUV before driving away. Homeland Security records confirm that she crossed into Mexico less than an hour later.

Text messages obtained by authorities shed light on a possible motive. In a message to an acquaintance the day after the killing, Yolanda reportedly wrote, “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.”

Yolanda, who remains at large, has a violent past. Court records reveal she previously served 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of her then-husband, James Olejniczak Jr, in 2004.

James’ mother, Nancy Hayworth, recently told ABC News that before her son’s murder, he was in the process of filing divorce papers. When asked about the similarities between the two cases, Hayworth replied, “Scary, very scary, she scares me, she always has.”

As the search for Yolanda continues, retired FBI profiler Gregg McCrary tells ABC he believes investigators are meticulously piecing together her next moves. “At the very least, consider the possibility they’ve altered their appearance in some way, cut their hair, they’re wearing a wig, doing something,” McCrary said. He also emphasized the importance of examining her connections. “If she’s run to Mexico, chances are good that she feels safe there; there’s going to be family or friends or some environment in which she is running to where she feels comfortable.”

Law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border are working together to locate and apprehend Yolanda. Criminal defense attorney Gretchen von Helms explained that if she is found, her return to the U.S. will be swift. “If they get her, the Mexican authorities can just call the U.S. authorities and just take her to the border and deport her,” von Helms said. If she claims Mexican citizenship, extradition will still occur, but it may take longer.

Meanwhile, the firefighting community continues to mourn the loss of Captain Marodi, who dedicated over 30 years to Cal Fire. She had recently fought the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County, where she was filmed discussing the overwhelming emotions of battling intense flames.

“When we arrived on scene, fire (was) all around us,” Marodi said in the video posted by Cal Fire. “The feeling that I got while we were trying to make a stance on this fire was overwhelming and sad. I just wanted to be able to make a difference. At one point, we just said if we can save these three houses, let’s do it.”

A fundraiser organized by the Cal Fire San Diego Benevolent Fund has raised over $22,000 to assist Marodi’s family and cover funeral expenses.

Anyone with information on Yolanda Marodi’s whereabouts is urged to contact the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers.