She stabbed her husband to death, then, decades later, killed her wife the same way

Los Angeles Times ^ | Aug. 5, 2026 1:12 PM PT | Summer Lin

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• Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 54, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the stabbing death of her wife, Cal Fire Capt. Rebecca Marodi, at their Ramona home in February 2025.
• The killing comes two decades after Olejniczak Marodi fatally stabbed her husband in her prior marriage; she faces up to 36 years to life in prison at sentencing in September.
• Home security video captured Rebecca begging for her life before the attack, investigators say.

For the second time, Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi has been found guilty of killing a spouse — both times with a knife.

On Tuesday in San Diego County Superior Court, Olejniczak Marodi, 54, confessed to killing her wife, 49-year-old Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi, at their Ramona home on Feb. 17, 2025, according to Tanya Sierra, spokesperson for the San Diego County district attorney‘s office.

Olejniczak Marodi pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and said she used a knife in the killing, Sierra said. She is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 2 and faces up to 36 years to life in prison.

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Olejniczak Marodi has a prior conviction for a violent crime. She was sentenced in 2004 to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of her then-husband, James Joseph Olejniczak, according to court records. She served time in prison from 2004 until 2013.

Rebecca Marodi was a decorated captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and helped battle the Eaton fire. She was found stabbed to death in her home. She and Olejniczak Marodi had been married for just over two years.

On Feb. 17, Rebecca Marodi’s mother, Lorena, called 911, saying that her daughter had been stabbed...

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[traderrob6]

Crazy Butch!

[Liz]

[bankwalker]

she looks nice ...

[alloysteel]

Lesbian rage....

It transcends mere spousal anger. Rises to the level of psychosis.

[Jan_Sobieski]

I don’t think I’ll take a stab at this either…

[libertylover]

she faces up to 36 years to life in prison

Does that mean she'll be eligible for parole in 36 years, or is that the range of sentencing the judge can order? She should get life (or worse) since this is the 2nd person she's murdered.

[Henry Hnyellar]

5’2” and 166 pounds - portly.

[FreeperCell]

Can’t we all get along?

[Liz]

fat

[Mr. Blond]

I just can’t find any f**ks to give.

[neverevergiveup]

She should get life (or worse) since this is the 2nd person she's murdered.

Agree. This is horrible. She got out 9 years after being convicted and sentenced for killing her husband. If that sentence had been longer maybe the woman she married and killed would still be alive.

[ConservaTexan]

Is 5’2” her height or her diameter?

[Dr. Sivana]

The killed woman looks like Claude Akins.

[gildafarrell]

Freedom frying for this repeat murderer would not be amiss.

[TheDon]

” If that sentence had been longer maybe the woman she married and killed would still be alive.”

Imagine if she had been executed after the first murder....or the second. She will live to murder again.

[Buck-Toothed Knuckle Dragger]

In CA, years actually means weeks.

[Secret Agent Man]

Just put a bullet in her. Its what we’d do to a man, its equality baby.