Suspect’s Texts Reveal Possible Motive for Killing of Cal Fire Chief: ‘I Hurt Her’

A woman suspected of stabbing her wife to death and taking off with their pets is believed to have fled to Mexico — and texts she sent before she left might reveal the motive for the alleged murder of Cal Fire Captain Rebecca “Becky” Marodi.

“Becky came home and told me she was leaving me,” Yolanda Marodi allegedly wrote to an acquaintance one day after her wife’s death, according to an arrest warrant reviewed by PEOPLE. “She met someone else, all the messages were lies. We had a big fight, and I hurt her … I’m sorry.”

Yolanda, also known as Yolanda Olejniczak, 53, is currently wanted by police. She has brown hair, is 5’2”, and weighs approximately 166 lbs.

Rebecca Marodi, 49, a captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, was found with multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest, and abdomen at her home in Ramona, Calif., on Feb. 17, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said. Days later, authorities named Rebecca’s wife as the suspect. Yolanda’s location is currently unknown.

In the arrest warrant, police claimed that home security footage shows Yolanda chasing Rebecca across the patio shortly before 8 pm on the night of the murder. Yolanda was allegedly holding a knife at the time.

“Yolanda! Please… I don’t want to die,” a voice believed to be Rebecca’s was heard saying, police stated. Blood appeared to be running down her back, per the warrant.

“You should have thought about that before,” Yolanda, who allegedly had blood on her arms, responded, the warrant claims.

Rebecca was then allegedly seen on camera begging Yolanda to call 911 multiple times as her wife told her to go back inside.

Police alleged that minutes later, Yolanda could be seen on camera loading pets and luggage into an SUV before leaving the home, wearing different clothing. Police believe Yolanda subsequently left the country, as her SUV was spotted hours later crossing the Mexican border.

She reportedly fled in a 2013 silver Chevrolet Equinox with a California license plate: 8BQJ420.

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Lt. Mike Krugh of the sheriff’s office previously told PEOPLE that Yolanda once served time in prison for manslaughter in connection with the death of her then-husband, James J. Olejniczak Jr.

Rebecca worked with Cal Fire for more than 30 years after beginning her firefighting career as a volunteer in 1993. She was promoted to captain in 2022.

Police urge anyone who sees Yolanda to contact them immediately. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.