Woman suspected of fatally stabbing her fire captain wife served time for killing husband in 2003

SAN DIEGO (TCN) -- Law enforcement officials are searching for a woman they believe fatally stabbed her fire captain wife and then fled the area.

On Feb. 17 just before 9 p.m., San Diego County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a call about an assault with a deadly weapon at a home on Rancho Villa Road. When they arrived, they found the victim, 49-year-old Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, inside with multiple stab wounds. Paramedics from Cal Fire rendered aid, but she was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The sheriff’s office said investigators were treating Marodi’s death as a "potential domestic violence incident."

The medical examiner determined at Marodi’s autopsy that the cause of death was stab wounds or sharp force entries.

In an update, the sheriff’s office announced they identified Marodi’s wife, Yolanda Olejniczak, as the main suspect in the case. Olejniczak’s location, however, is unknown.

According to KNSD-TV, Olejniczak pleaded guilty in 2003 to voluntary manslaughter for the stabbing death of her husband, Jim Olejniczak, in 2000. She was released on parole in 2015.

Marodi and Olejniczak had been married for about two years.

The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, better known as Cal Fire, said in a joint statement with the Riverside County Fire Department that Marodi started her career as a volunteer firefighter in 1993. Marodi worked in Riverside and San Bernardino counties before becoming a Fire Fighter II in 2000. She was eventually promoted to captain in 2022.

The statement said Marodi "was deeply involved in Peer Support and Hazmat, always prioritizing the well-being of her colleagues. Her legacy of mentorship, service, and dedication will be felt for years to come."

The departments said her death is a "profound loss to her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside her."

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