Ramona Wife Who Killed Fire Captain and Fled to Mexico Sentenced to Prison

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that 54-year-old Yolanda Marodi, who was convicted of stabbing her wife to death, has been sentenced to 36 years-to-life in prison.

Yolanda Marodi pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on August 4, one month before trial was set to begin in the slaying of Rebecca Marodi, a Riverside County Fire Captain.

“This was a vicious murder of a respected and dedicated Fire Captain who dedicated her entire career to serving her community,” DA Stephan said. “This case also shows that no one is immune to domestic violence, which is one of the most hidden and dangerous forms of violence we confront. We can honor Captain Rebecca Marodi’s memory by joining together to safeguard victims of domestic violence and hold their abusers accountable. I am grateful to Deputy District Attorneys Maura Duffey and Jared Coleman, who prosecuted this case with care.”

Last February, when the couple’s two-year marriage began deteriorating, Yolanda Marodi stabbed Rebecca Marodi nearly two dozen times in her neck, chest and abdomen, inside their home in Ramona. Yolanda Marodi then fled the scene and crossed the border into Mexico. Rebecca’s mother returned home later in the evening, found her daughter and called 911, but Rebecca was pronounced deceased at the scene. More than a month later, Yolanda Marodi was apprehended in Mexico and extradited back to San Diego where she was charged with Rebecca’s murder. The charges also included an allegation that she had previously been convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

[VIDEO: Watch the emotional victim impact statement from Lorena Marodi, the victim’s mother.]

Domestic violence has many forms including physical aggression, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, stalking, or financial abuse. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, frighten, terrorize, injure, or wound someone.

If you or someone you know is being abused, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233. More resources can be found on the District Attorney’s website.

In addition, One Safe Place: San Diego County Family Justice Centers provide no-cost support services under one roof to anyone who has experienced child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crime, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, family violence, or other abuse or victimization. For more information, visit One Safe Place, here.