A woman previously sentenced to prison for killing her husband more than 20 years ago is prison-bound again for fatally stabbing her wife, a California firefighter.
Yolanda Marodi, 54, has been sentenced to 36 years to life in prison for the February 2025 killing of Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday, September 2.
Yolanda repeatedly stabbed Rebecca in her chest, neck and stomach at their Ramona home last year, when the couple’s “two-year marriage began deteriorating,” the office said in a news release.
Rebecca, who was 49, worked as a Riverside County fire captain for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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.
“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.”
“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.
After killing Rebecca, authorities said Yolanda fled to Mexico, where she was taken into custody more than a month later. 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.
Rebecca had worked as a firefighter for more than 30 years in California before her death, according to CAL FIRE.
An arrest warrant declaration viewed by NBC 7 San Diego revealed she wanted to end her marriage with Yolanda prior to the deadly stabbing.
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 the TV station.
Yolanda is reportedly accused of stabbing Lorena 23 times.
“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 wasn’t 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.
Read the full article here
