SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) — Authorities say the woman accused of killing her estranged wife, Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi, in an alleged domestic incident last month has been arrested in Baja California, Mexico.
Marodi was found fatally stabbed on February 17 at her home in the San Diego County community of Ramona by her mother who lives on the property. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said Rebecca Marodi had several injuries to her neck, chest, and back consistent with a stabbing.
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi was identified as the primary suspect in the case and authorities believed she had fled to Mexico.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office reports Olejniczak was seen on surveillance video shortly before the alleged stabbing and appeared to be arguing and physically assaulting Marodi.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports Olejniczak crossed into Mexico in her vehicle by the San Ysidro Port of Entry the night of the incident.
Authorities in San Diego County had requested help finding Olejniczak in Mexico. She was ultimately arrested roughly 100 miles from Ramona near a hotel in Mexicali on Saturday, Baja California Citizen Security Secretariat officials report.
After confirming her identity, Mexican authorities turned Olejniczak over to the U.S. Marshals at the Calexico West U.S. Port of Entry.
Olejniczak will be booked into jail and faces a murder charge, the sheriff’s office reports.
Court records obtained by Nexstar’s KSWB/KUSI show Olejniczak had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the early 2000s. She had been accused of fatally stabbing her estranged husband, James Olejniczak, in San Bernardino County.
An investigation into the circumstances and motivation behind the fatal stabbing of Marodi remains ongoing.
Anyone with more information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or after hours at 858-868-3200. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
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