By Miriam Raftery
March 30, 2025 (Lakeside) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call reporting that a toddler was not breathing last night at 8:53 p.m. in the11600 block of Camino Del Tierra, Lakeside.
“Deputies from the Lakeside substation and paramedics from the Lakeside Fire Department arrived and performed life saving measures on the toddler,” says Lieutenant Patrick Fox. The toddler was transported to the hospital, where the child tragically passed away.
Detectives are diligently gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and examining the circumstances surrounding this death. The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner's Office.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 868-3200. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
By Jennifer Vigil, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
March 23, 2025 (Ramona) - The woman accused of killing her wife, a CalFire captain, has been arrested in Mexico more than a month after the slaying, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities had been searching since late Feb. 17 for Yolanda Marodi, 53, named as the suspect in the stabbing death of Capt. Rebecca Marodi, 49.
The veteran firefighter was found dead by her mother at the couple’s home on Rancho Villa Road in Ramona, suffering from multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest and abdomen, according to court documents.
Sheriff’s officials said that Mexican authorities notified U.S. Marshals on Saturday that she was being held, then released her to their custody at an unnamed U.S. Port of Entry.
The suspect, they said, will be booked on a murder charge.
According to Telemundo, Baja California’s Citizen Security Secretariat offered more details in a news release. Yolanda Marodi, they said had been located and arrested near a Mexicali hotel on Avenida Fresnillo.
Within days of Rebecca Marodi’s death, the Sheriff’s office released a number of details as they sought the suspect, from the car she was believed to be driving, a compact SUV, to their belief that she may have crossed the border.
Legal documents also described footage of the attack on the victim, captured by Ring video.
Footage from outside the home showed Rebecca Marodi fleeing the residence, with her wife close on her heels. The suspect, authorities wrote, appeared to be holding a knife in her hand and had blood on her arms.
The couple returned inside, but some minutes later, Yolanda Marodi was seen placing items in a Chevrolet Equinox and leaving the residence.
Sheriff’s officials said Saturday that they had long known that the suspect had crossed into Mexico in her vehicle via the San Ysidro Port of Entry on Feb. 17, the same day of the attack. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided the information, according to the Sheriff’s office.
Yolanda Marodi, who also uses the surname Olejniczak, already had served a prison stint for voluntary manslaughter.
The woman pleaded guilty to the charge in San Bernardino County, after James Olejniczak, her former husband, was killed, also with a knife. Family court documents filed in North County indicate that James and Yolanda Olejniczak filed for divorce five months before his May 2000 death.
Updated 9:55 p.m. March 22, 2025
East County News Service
March 21, 2025 (Valley Center) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call yesterday reporting that a family member who recently passed away was buried on the family property in the 29000 block of Paso Robles Road, Valley Center. Deputies found a grave that appeared recent.
“Due to there being no record of the decedent's death, the Sheriff's Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation,” says Lieutenant Patrick Fox with the San Diego County Sheriff’s department.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 868-3200. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
East County News Service
March 10, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Shane Capezio, 22, has been arrested after allegedly kidnapping a ride-share driver in East County. The Lyft driver texted 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher that she was being held against her will by a passenger she picked up in Spring Valley, who told the driver that he had a gun, says Sergeant Kenneth Seel with the San Diego County Sheriff’s department.
Capezio reportedly told the driver to take him to a dispensary located in the 3500 block of Harris Street in Lemon Grove. Deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation and Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station arrived at the dispensary's parking lot, where they "found a struggle taking place inside the car between Capezio and the driver," says Sgt. Seel.
Deputies quickly intervened and detained Capezio. The driver was not seriously injured.
A preliminary investigation by deputies found that Capezio did not have a gun. He was arrested on numerous charges, including kidnapping, robbery, false imprisonment, dissuading a victim and preventing a victim from calling 9-1-1. Capezio was booked into the San Diego Central Jail.
Text to 9-1-1 is available in San Diego County. This includes the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, as well as all police and fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies.
To watch a video about how Text to 9-1-1 works, click here.
Calling is still the fastest way to reach 9-1-1. However, there are situations when texting may be the better option, if:
• You're deaf, hard of hearing, non-verbal or have difficulty speaking
• You're in a situation where it's not safe to call 9-1-1 for help
• You're having a medical emergency and cannot speak on the phone
How does Text to 9-1-1 work?
• Enter the numbers 911 in the "To" field
• Give the location and nature of your emergency
• Send the text message
• Respond to dispatcher questions and follow instructions.
By Miriam Raftery
Photo, left: photos of some items stolen Feb. 23 from Hatfield Creek Winery’s owner
March 6, 2025 (Ramona) – The Sheriff’s department seeks public help to find robbers who stole nearly $15,000 worth of jewelry and collectible coins from the owner’s home at Hatfield Creek Vineyard and Winery on State Route 78 in Ramona.
Crimestoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the thieves, who may have targeted two other Ramona wineries on the same day, February 23.
The suspects are described as two heavy-set, possibly Hispanic men, says Sergeant Daniel Sloppye. The men are believed to have committed the crime at Hatfield Creek Winery around 4 p.m.
Between 3:45 and 5 p.m., two other wineries nearby, Barrel 1 Winery and Correcaminos Vineyard and Winery, both reported suspicious persons,
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the owner of the Barrel 1 Winery says two men in their 20s or 30s knocked on the door of her home that afternoon. They asked where the tasting room, then drove off without visiting it. She described their vehicle as an older black four-door Mercedes Benz. The owner of Correcaminos said her husband went into their home to feed their two dogs and found two young men inside who ran off when the dogs barked, then drove away in a black sedan.
Sgt, Sloppye says no crime reports were filed, because no thefts took place at the other two wineries. “As a precaution, deputies are conducting extra patrols at wineries in the Ramona area,” he says.
Photo, right, by Miriam Raftery: Hatfield Creek Vineyards Owner Elaine Lyttleton
Hatfield Creek Vineyards and Winery owner Elaine Lyttleton told the Union-Tribune that the stolen jewelry includes an antique ring given to her mother by her godmother in 1925. “That was my wedding band that can never be replaced with anything,” she said. Other pieces were gifts bequeathed to Lyttleton by her best friend.
Anyone with information about the home burglary or the stolen items is asked to call the San Diego County Sheriff's Office at (858) 868-3200. You can also call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case.
Visit www.sdcrimestoppers.org for information on how to send web or mobile app tips.