Slain Calif. Fire Captain Heard Begging For Her Life on Home Surveillance: 'I Don't Want to Die'

Mar. 15, 2025

Rebecca Marodi, left, and Yolanda Marodi.Photo:Riverside County Fire Dept.; San Diego County Sheriff’s Office

Riverside County Fire Dept.; San Diego County Sheriff’s Office

Home security camera footage allegedly captured a slain California fire captain pleading for her life while her wife, who isaccused of her murder, was holding a knife.

Rebecca Marodi, 49, a captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, was found with multiple stab wounds at her home in Ramona, Calif., on Feb. 17, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said. Days later, authorities named Marodi’s wife, Yolanda Marodi, 53, also known as Yolanda Olejniczak, as the suspect, and said her location is currently unknown.

Lt. Mike Krugh of the sheriff’s office previously said that Yolanda had at one time served time in prison for manslaughter in connection with the death of her then-husband.

“Yolanda! Please… I don’t want to die,” a voice believed to be Rebecca’s could be heard saying, police reportedly claimed.

“You should have thought about that before,” Yolanda allegedly responded.

Rebecca reportedly was seen on camera asking Yolanda to call 911 multiple times.

The outlets report that police alleged that minutes later, Yolanda could be seen on camera loading pets and luggage into an SUV before leaving the home. Police reportedly believe Yolanda subsequently left the country after her SUV was spotted crossing the Mexican border.

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The warrant also alleges that the suspect texted an acquaintance days after the incident, according to the outlets.

“Becky came home and told me she was leaving me,” Yolanda allegedly wrote. “She met someone else, all the messages were lies. We had a big fight, and I hurt her … I’m sorry.”

Rebecca was with Cal Fire for over 30 years and began her firefighting career as a volunteer in 1993. She was promoted to captain in 2022.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com