Suspect in Cal Fire captain's death makes first in-person court appearance
Yolanda Olejniczak, also identified by law enforcement as Yolanda Marodi, had been hospitalized for an unspecified ailment since her arrest in Baja California and extradition to U.S. soil following a weeks-long search.
For her arraignment at the end of March, when she pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge in connection to Marodi's death, the 53-year-old appeared in court by video conference while still in a hospital bed.
'Becky was not alone': Friend reacts as suspect arrested in death of Cal Fire Captain
The court during the hearing Monday set dates for the next steps in the case, including a readiness conference on June 11 and preliminary hearing at the end of September.
Olejniczak has been ordered to be held in custody without bail or conditional release as the case continues by the judge at her arraignment, citing the violent nature of Marodi's death at the Ramona home they shared in mid-February.
The judge mentioned Marodi had been found with over 30 stabbing or slashing wounds, and that law enforcement had described Ring camera footage of the attack where the 49-year-old could be heard pleading for her life.
According to a person familiar with their relationship and a sheriff's official, Marodi had told Olejniczak she planned to leave her, ending their two-year marriage, the week prior to the stabbing.
The judge further noted his decision to deny release on bond took into account Olejniczak's prior conviction on voluntary manslaughter for the fatal stabbing of her estranged husband in the early 2000s.
If convicted in the case, Olejniczak could face a sentence of 25 years to life behind bars.
'This is a very tragic state of intimate partner violence,' Mara Duffy, deputy district attorney, said of the case after Olejniczak's arraignment. 'The victim was a beloved member of the Cal Fire community and I know this loss is being felt in that community.'
If you or anyone you know needs help, call 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788 reach the 24-hour National Domestic Violence hotline. There is also an online chat available at thehotline.org.
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