Cal Fire captain’s deadly stabbing shocks colleagues

The firefighting community is mourning the loss of Cal Fire Captain Rebecca "Becky" Marodi.

Captain John Clingingsmith Jr. of Cal Fire Riverside County said he knew Marodi for almost 30 years.

"Captain Marodi was a great person, fabulous to work with," Clingingsmith Jr. said. "Always smiling, always had a positive attitude."

He said he was shocked when he found out.

"Just the utter shock, disbelief and fog," Marodi said. "We're trying to wrap our heads around this."

Clingingsmith said beyond battling flames, Marodi played a crucial role as a peer supporter — helping fellow firefighters through the toughest moments of their careers.

"That's kind of a double sting for a lot of us, is knowing that she would normally be out there at all these stations, making sure that everybody was okay," Clingingsmith said. "That is kind of another weight that is on a lot of us right now, knowing that she's not going to come through the door."

New details are emerging about the violent past of the suspect, Yolanda Marodi, also known as Yolanda Olenjniczak, 53.

A spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office confirmed Olenjniczak was previously charged with an October 2000 murder in San Bernardino County. 

News Channel 3's Shay Lawson is speaking with Marodi’s colleagues about her legacy at 10 and 11 p.m.