The desperate plea from Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi in the final moments of her life were shared by California police in a damning new arrest warrant for her wife.
Marodi, 49, was found suffering from multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest and abdomen inside the Ramona home she shared with her wife, Yolanda, 53, and her mother, Lorena, the night of February 17.
She was later pronounced dead at the scene, while her wife was nowhere to be found.
Authorities now say Lorena called 911 that night and told sheriff’s deputies that her daughter had been stabbed at their home, according to the warrant obtained by ABC 10News.
When San Diego County sheriff’s deputies then arrived on the scene, Lorena said she had a Ring camera at the home and told investigators she would share the video surveillance.
It showed two people, believed to be Rebecca and Yolanda, running across the patio about an hour earlier.
A voice believed to be that of Rebecca could then be heard crying out, ‘Yolanda! Please… I don’t want to die!’ the arrest warrant states.
The fire captain then came into view, showing her with what appeared to be blood running down her back.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Yolanda Marodi, 53, for her wife’s murder
Rebecca Marodi, pictured with the suspect, was found suffering from multiple stab wounds inside the Ramona home she shared with Yolanda and her mother, Lorena, the night of February 17
At that point, another voice – believed to be Yolanda’s – could be heard replying, ‘You should have thought of that before.’
The suspect was then allegedly seen standing in front of her wife with what appeared to be a knife in her right hand.
‘Apparent blood was seen on Yolanda’s arms and Yolanda can be heard telling Rebecca to go inside,’ the warrant states.
‘Rebecca repeatedly told Yolanda to call 911.’
But eventually she obeyed her wife’s orders, and the two were seen entering the home. It was the last time Rebecca was seen in the footage.
Yolanda, though, was later seen wearing different clothes while she packed her pets and luggage into a silver Chevrolet Equinox.
That vehicle was seen hours later entering Mexico, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Yolanda now remains on the run, but the warrant notes that she has since texted a friend.
Authorities say they reviewed surveillance footage showing Yolanda apparently chasing Rebecca around the porch with a bloody knife
The two eventually returned to the house, and Rebecca was not seen again on the surveillance footage as her wife packed up a silver Chevrolet Equinox
‘Becky came home and told me she was leaving me, she met someone else, all the messages were lies,’ the text read, according to the warrant.
‘We had a big fight and I hurt her … I’m sorry.’
But this is not the first time authorities are searching for Yolanda, who was previously the subject of a manhunt in October 2000 after she stabbed her then-husband James J. Olejniczak Jr., 26, to death, CBS 8 reported.
The suspect – whose name was Yolanda Olenjniczak at the time – had filed for divorce against James months earlier and the pair agreed to ‘mutual restraining orders’, according to court documents reviewed by the news outlet.
They also agreed to joint custody of their two children, then ages nine and four.
Yolanda, who tried to flee with her children following her husband’s death, turned herself into police roughly 24 hours later, and in 2003 pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
She was sentenced to 11 years in state prison in 2004, according to court records, but was only in custody from February that year until November 2013.
Yolanda had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of her ex-husband in October 2000
Marodi’s ex-wife, Lilia Phleger Phillips, 58, even told DailyMail.com she had her concerns about Olenjniczak.
‘From what I’ve heard her wife was a volatile person,’ said Lilia, who was married to Rebecca for seven years before they got divorced in 2015. ‘She served time for voluntary manslaughter. The crime happened in 2000. That’s public knowledge.’
The firefighter and Yolanda appear to have been together since at least 2022 when Yolanda shared an Instagram photo announcing their engagement.
‘No words can express the joy and profound happiness and gratitude that I experience every day that I spend by her side, and soon I’ll get to call her my wife,’ she said at the time.
‘I’m so blessed to have this amazing woman love me unconditionally. I love you @beck_marodi, you make my life complete.’
Rebecca and Yolanda appear to have been together since at least 2022 when Yolanda shared an Instagram photo announcing their engagement
Marodi served more than 30 years with Cal Fire and was one of the thousands of firefighters who battled the deadly Eaton Fire in January
Marodi served more than 30 years with Cal Fire and was planning to retire this year, according to KABC.
‘Her passing is a profound loss to her family, friends and all who had the privilege of working alongside her,’ Cal Fire said.
‘Beyond her operational assignments, Captain 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.’
Marodi was one of the thousands of firefighters who battled the deadly Eaton Fire in January. She was even featured in social media posts of crews battling the blaze and shared videos of herself putting out the flames.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Paul Selegue told the local news station Marodi was someone everyone could aspire to be like.
‘She was never afraid to get involved with a person who needed help and she was always willing to extend herself to assist them,’ he said.
