Wife of Slain Fire Captain Arrested After Month-Long Manhunt in Mexico

SAN DIEGO, California — A woman suspected of fatally stabbing her wife, a fire captain, at their home has been captured in Mexico after evading authorities for more than a month, Mexican officials confirmed on Saturday.

Yolanda Marodi was apprehended at a hotel in Mexicali, approximately 2.3 miles from the U.S. border. The Baja California Citizen Security Secretariat reported that Marodi was taken into custody with the assistance of Mexico’s National Institute of Migration and subsequently handed over to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Yolanda Marodi is wanted by U.S. authorities regarding the Feb. 17 slaying of her wife, Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, 49, at their home in San Diego County. The arrest follows a coordinated effort between U.S. and Mexican authorities to locate the suspect.

According to an affidavit related to Yolanda’s arrest, she confronted Rebecca with a knife during a domestic dispute, which was captured on the couple’s home security system. The footage records Rebecca pleading for her life, saying, “Yolanda! Please … ! I don’t want to die.” In response, Yolanda allegedly replied, “You should have thought about that before,” the affidavit states.

Rebecca Marodi was reported to have sustained multiple stab wounds and was declared dead at the scene shortly after emergency services arrived. Her mother, who shared the home with the couple, had contacted authorities to report the stabbing.

On the night of the incident, the security footage revealed Yolanda packing their belongings into her silver Chevrolet Equinox SUV, which was later recorded crossing the border into Mexico shortly after Rebecca’s death. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department stated that a search had been underway for Yolanda, including collaboration with the U.S. Marshal’s San Diego Fugitive Task Force.

The declaration also disclosed that Yolanda had a prior conviction for voluntary manslaughter stemming from the 2000 stabbing of her former husband, Jim Olejniczak. An unnamed witness claimed to have received a text from Yolanda a day after Rebecca’s murder, stating, “Becky came home and told me she was leaving … We had a big fight, and I hurt her … I’m sorry.”

Cal Fire, along with the Riverside County Fire Department, released a statement expressing gratitude to law enforcement agencies for their efforts leading up to Yolanda’s capture. “Becky was a beloved member of our community, and we miss her greatly,” said spokeswoman Maggie Cline De La Rosa.

Rebecca Marodi had a distinguished career in firefighting, serving over 30 years with Cal Fire. She rose through the ranks, beginning as a volunteer before becoming a captain in 2022. Her contributions included a commitment to peer support within the department.

Following her arrest, Yolanda will be processed and booked into custody on murder charges, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. The case remains under investigation.