Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, a 49-year-old lesbian captain in California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), was found stabbed to death in her Ramona, California home on Monday night. Now, police are seeking her 53-year-old wife, Yolanda Olejniczak, in connection to the murder.

Police went to Marodi’s home on Monday around 9 p.m. after receiving reports of an assault with a deadly weapon. Though they tried to save her life, she died at the scene.

Related

Police identify 12th victim buried on estate of closeted Republican murderer
A forensic investigative team used bone fragments to help identify a man who’s been missing for over 30 years.

Investigators previously said Marodi knew her attacker and said her murder stemmed from an act of domestic violence, KNSD reported. Olejniczak remains at large. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2000 and was sentenced to 11 years, but only served 665 days.

Stay connected to your community

Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today

Monika Evans, a neighbor of the couple, told KTLA, “They’d be mowing, they’d be doing wood, gardening … you know the usual stuff. Never saw any problems.”

Social media commenters online have begun falsely circulating rumors that President Donald Trump and other right-wingers referred to Marodi as a “DEI hire” responsible for the recent California wildfires. However, this claim is not substantiated by any other mainstream news reports and reports of Trump’s public comments.

“Her passing is a profound loss to her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside her,” Cal Fire Riverside said in a statement Tuesday night, according to KTLA. “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 served over 30 years with Cal Fire, particularly in the counties of Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego. She received a promotion to the role of fire captain at Cal Fire Riverside’s Temecula station in 2022.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Paul Selegue said of Marodi, “She was never afraid to get involved with a person who needed help and she was always willing to extend herself to assist them.”

In a statement, Lt. Michael Krugh with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said, “Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time. We assure the public that we are using all available resources to thoroughly investigate and seek justice in this case.”

Police have asked anyone with information about Olenjniczak’s whereabouts to call the Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 44% of lesbian women and 61% of bisexual women have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. This is higher than the 35% of straight women who have experienced IPV. 

Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.