Wife of slain Cal Fire/Riverside captain arrested in Mexico
Yolanda Marodi, wife of Cal Fire/Riverside Capt. Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, who was fatally stabbed last month, was arrested by Mexican authorities on Saturday, according to authorities.
After her arrest, she was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals Saturday at a U.S. port of entry. Once she is processed, she will be booked on suspicion of murder, according to a San Diego County Sheriff’s Office news release.
Agents from Fuerza Estatal de Seguridad Ciudadana, known as FESC, in Baja California said they apprehended Marodi near a hotel in the Ferrocarril neighborhood of Mexicali, ending a five-week manhunt.
On Feb. 17, Rebecca, 49, was found dead by her mother who also lived on the property in Ramona with Yolanda, 53, and Rebecca. She was stabbed in her neck, chest, and back.
In a surveillance video, Yolanda was earlier seen arguing with Rebecca and physically assaulting her. Rebecca’s final moments were captured on a doorbell camera of their home.
The day following Rebecca’s killing, according to an affidavit in support of an arrest warrant, Yolanda messaged a “known associate” saying, “Rebecca came home and told me she was leaving me … We had a big fight and I hurt her … I’m sorry.” The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office sfiled the warrant affidavit in El Cajon Superior Court.
Yolanda was later seen leaving the property, before Rebecca’s mother arrived. Police and emergency firefighters arrived to the property and performed life-saving measures. Rebecca died from her injuries.
The affidavit in support of the arrest warrant states that, according to the Department of Homeland Security, Yolanda Marodi entered Mexico just after 9:15 p.m. the night of the attack.
A fund was established to help the family of the slain captain, who worked at the Cal Fire/Riverside County French Valley station near Murrieta. She started as a volunteer firefighter in Moreno Valley in 1993.
The Litas San Diego, an all-female motorcycle collective, organized a memorial ride on March 16 to honor Rebecca Marodi, who was a member of the group.
More than 200 people took part in the event that saw motorcyclists travel from Hillcrest in downtown San Diego through Ramona and into the unincorporated town of Wynola.
The investigation is ongoing.
The death of Rebecca drew comparisons to the October 2000 killing of Yolanda Marodi’s then-husband, James Olejniczak, in San Bernardino County.
Olejniczak was found dead in his apartment with stab wounds to his chest.
Yolanda Marodi, who had reportedly been estranged from Olejniczak and lived in Vista with her two children, turned herself in to authorities shortly after the body was found.
Marodi was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and served 13 years in prison in connection with the slaying.
Anyone with information about the killing of Rebecca Marodi was asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 868-3200. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
San Diego Union-Tribune staff writers Christian Martinez and Rob Nikolewski; and Ramona Sentinel writer Regina Elling, contributed to this story.