An ex-con previously sentenced to prison for killing her husband has been sentenced to 36 years to life for fatally stabbing her firefighter wife, prosecutors said.
Yolanda Marodi, 54, lived at the couple’s home in Ramona, according to prosecutors.
The victim, 49-year-old Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, worked as a Riverside County fire captain for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Rebecca had worked as a firefighter for more than 30 years in California before her death, according to CAL FIRE.
In February 2025, the fatal stabbing occurred at their Ramona home, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
The attack took place when the couple’s “two-year marriage began deteriorating,” prosecutors said in a news release. An arrest warrant declaration viewed by NBC 7 San Diego revealed Rebecca wanted to end her marriage with Yolanda prior to the deadly stabbing.
Yolanda repeatedly stabbed Rebecca in her chest, neck and stomach at the residence, according to the district attorney’s office.
The day Rebecca died, Yolanda told Lorena, who lived with them, that “she and Becky had some things to work out, but there wouldn’t be any fighting,” per NBC 7 San Diego. Yolanda is reportedly accused of stabbing Lorena 23 times.
After the stabbing, Rebecca was discovered by her mother, Lorena Marodi, who called police, according to prosecutors.
Authorities then declared Rebecca dead at the home.
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After killing Rebecca, Yolanda fled to Mexico, where she was taken into custody more than a month later, authorities said. She was extradited to San Diego to face charges in connection with the slaying.
Ahead of sentencing, Yolanda pleaded guilty on August 4 to a second-degree murder charge, the district attorney’s office said.
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office announced the sentence of 36 years to life in prison on Wednesday, September 2.
“In the face of the darkest, greatest darkness, I have stood strong to receive justice for the vicious murder of my amazing, beautiful, strong daughter,” Lorena said while reading a victim impact statement at Yolanda’s sentencing on Wednesday.
“Every morning when I wake, the image of my baby girl lying on the floor with stab wounds to her back and lifeless haunts me,” Lorena said.
“Despite the horrific violence bestowed upon Becky, I refuse to allow Yolanda’s darkness to consume me … in the darkest moments, it’s been the memories of Becky that keep me moving,” Lorena also said.
“It was the privilege of a lifetime to be her mother,” she added.
“This was a vicious murder of a respected and dedicated Fire Captain who dedicated her entire career to serving her community,” San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement.
Rebecca’s killing was not the first time Yolanda allegedly stabbed a spouse to death, according to prosecutors.
Yolanda was previously convicted of voluntary manslaughter in connection with fatally stabbing her former husband James Joseph Olejniczak in 2000, The Orange County Register reported. Following her conviction, she spent 13 years in prison.
Yolanda has now been sentenced to 36 years to life in prison for the murder, the district attorney’s office announced.
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