Crime Beat

Updates: The victim has been identified as 51-year-old Anthony Trujillo.  On Feb. 27, Andrew Gomez Cardona, 26, was arrested at a home on S. Magnolia in El Cajon. He has been booked on charges related to the murder of Trujillo, who died of a bullet wound in the neck.  Cardona told deputies that he resided in Lemon Grove.

Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow issued a statement expressing "shock and grief" at the klling in broad daylight. She extended  "love and prayers" to family members and assured that law enforcemeng officers are "acting swiftly to bring those responsible to justice and to account for this inexcusable act of gun violence."

East County News Service

February 23, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – A man is dead after an assault with a deadly weapon at Kunkel Park in Lemon Grove this afternoon. 

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the park within four minutes of a call reporting the assault at 12:40 p.m.  They found a Hispanic man in his 50s lying on the ground with trauma to his upper torso.

“Deputies promptly initiated first aid and life-saving measures, later assisted by Heartland Fire and AMR paramedics. The injured man was transported by AMR to a local hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries,” says Lieutenant Michelle Krugh.

Homicide investigators are working to determine the motive and circumstances, but preliminary findings suggest the suspect and victim were acquainted.

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

February 23, 2025 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon Police received an automatic license plate reader (ALPR) notification of a stolen vehicle at 1:37 a.m.  Officers quickly located the car, but when they tried to stop the vehicle, the driver fled and a pursuit began. Due to the high speed, police ended the ground pursuit and utilized a Sheriff’s helicopter to track the car for approximately an hour as it traveled through the county.

“The vehicle eventually lost control and came to rest against a wooden pole on Sweetwater Rd. in Chula Vista,” says Lieutenant Mike Murphy with El Cajon Police Dept.

The driver, unable to exit the car through the driver's door, was arrested as he attempted to flee out the passenger door.

The two passengers fled on foot but were later apprehended after being monitored by the helicopter. 

All three teens were arrested for auto theft and possession of stolen property and the driver of the car was also charged with evading arrest with wanton disregard for safety.

The driver and one passenger with a previous criminal record were booked into Juvenile Hall, and the other juvenile was released to a parent.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311.

East County News Service

February 21, 2025 (Ramona) – The Sheriff’s office is searching for Yolanda  Marodi, also known as Yolanda Olejniczak, who is suspected in the stabbing death of her wife, Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi. The couple had been married for approximately two years.

The suspect previously served time in prison for killing her first spouse, James Joseph Olejniczak, with a knife in San Bernadino County. She pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2003 and was imprisoned from February 2004 until November 2013, 10 News reports.

Rebecca Marodi served over 30 years with Cal Fire, including Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties. 

On Feb. 17, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an assault at the couple’s Ramona home on Rancho Villa Road. First responders found the victim, who had suffered multiple stab wounds. Despite lifesaving efforts by deputies and paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 166 pounds with brown hair. Olejniczak is believed to be driving a silver 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with California license plate "8BQJ420." She is traveling with a small white dog.

At this time, Olejniczak's whereabouts are not known. Out of an abundance of caution, the Sheriff's Office has alerted authorities on both side of the border about this suspect.

If you have any information for law enforcement on Olejniczak's whereabouts, reach out to the Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

A tribute from Cal Fire San Diego states, “Captain Marodi, 49, dedicated more than three decades to serving and protecting our communities with unwavering bravery, leadership, and commitment.”

According to the post, Rebecca Marodi was caregiving for her 77-year-old mother, who lived with her in Ramona.  The Cal Fire San Diego Benevolent Fund is asking for donations to cover continuing care for Marodi’s mother, as well as funeral expenses. You can donate at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/fundraising/fire-captain-rebecca-marodi-fundraiser.

By Miriam Raftery

February 19, 2025 (Spring Valley) – David Ruiz, 22, was arrested by Sheriff’s deputies today for the murder of his newborn son.

Responding to a 1:20 p.m. report of battery at a home on Sacramento Avenue in Spring Valley, San Miguel Firefighters arrived at 1:26 p.m., followed closely by Sheriff’s deputies from the Rancho San Diego station.  “Firefighters discovered a newborn male infant unconscious on the living room floor, suffering from apparent trauma to his head. Tragically, the baby was pronounced dead at the scene,” says Lieutenant Michael Krugh.

The biological father, 22-year-old David Ruiz, was taken into custody and will be charged with the murder of his newborn son.

The motivation and circumstances surrounding this tragic homicide are still unclear. Sheriff's Homicide investigators are working to gather more information to determine the facts of the case.

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.

Update 4:30 p.m.:   The victim has been identified as Cal Fire Captain Rebecca "Becky" Marodi, 10 News reports.  On Facebook, Cal Fire confirms, "It is with great sadness that CAL FIRE reports the off-duty death of Fire Captain Rebecca “Becky” Marodi. Captain Marodi served over 30 years with CAL FIRE, primarily in Riverside County, but also serving time in San Bernardino and San Diego Counties. The tragic loss of Captain Marodi is mourned by her family, friends, and her CAL FIRE family."

By Miriam Raftery

February 18, 2025 (Ramona) – The San Diego County Sheriff’s department is seeking tips from the public to identify who brutally stabbed a woman in Ramona repeatedly last night. The victim died after the suspect fled the scene.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call reporting an assault with a deadly weapon shortly before 9 p.m. They found the victim, a 50-year-old Hispanic woman, with multiple stab wounds inside a home in the 20200 block of Rancho Villa Rd. Despite life-saving efforts by deputies and Cal Fire paramedics, the woman died at the scene.

“At this stage of the investigation, the motivation and circumstances of the homicide are still unclear. Currently there is no suspect information,” says Lieutenant Michael Krugh.

Sheriff's homicide investigators are working to gather more information to determine the facts of the case.

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.

“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,” Krugh concludes.  

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Merle Wakefield and Alvin Quarles have been conditionally released into  Campo and Borrego Springs.

February 16, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The Sheriff’s department has sent warning notices to residents in Borrego Springs and Campo, announcing that two sexually violent predators have been conditionally released into these communities.  The court has ordered Liberty Healthcare, which runs the state’s conditional release program, to continue seeking permanent placement for the two men.

Alvin Quarles, 62, is now in Borrego Springs.  Known as the “Bolder than most” rapist for making spouses or partners watch, he was convicted of a series of rapes in the 1980s. He served 25 years in state prison before being committed to Coalinga State  Hospital. Quarles was initially to be placed in Campo, but the state has instead opted to place the other offender, Merle Wakefield, in the Campo home instead.

Wakefield, temporarily in Campo, was convicted of lewd acts on a child in 1981 and rape by means of force, violence or fear in 1990.  Prior efforts to place Wakefield at homes in Mt. Helix, Borrego Springs, and Poway failed after massive community opposition,  either by a judge rejecting the placements or the state rescinding the placement location.

While on conditional release, both men must abide by stringent conditions and will be monitored via GPS and security on a round-the-clock basis.

Another SVP, Alan Earl James, was placed in the Campo home last year, but state hospital officials have requested that his outpatient release be revoked. A hearing in James' case is set  for Tuesday. If a judge rules against revoking James' release, Wakefield would have to move again.

East County News Service

February 9, 2025 (Julian) – The proposed supervised placement of sexually violent predator Gary Snavely at a home on Wynola Road in Julian has been cancelled, CBS 8 reports, after the homeowner withdrew the property from consideration.

The homeowner, who asked to remain anonymous, told CBS 8 that she never gave approval to Liberty Healthcare, after the company told her they were seeking placement for either “witness protection or a violent criminal.” The owner also stated that Liberty offered substantially more than market rent, but added, “I was most likely not going to go through with it.”

She indicated that she never gave final approval and was surprised to learn a court had approved the placement without her permission.

She added, "I don't want to put the community at risk, so I apologize, it's been canceled."

The CBS story indicates the media outlet reached out to Liberty Healthcare for comment, but the company did not reply.

Snavely was convicted of molesting two girls ages 8 and 9 in Orange County back in 1987. In 1996 he was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in San Diego County and went back to prison. 

 After his release, he was placed in Jacumba in 2008 but after he abused his psychotropic medication and lied to his supervising staff he went back to Coalinga state hospital, though he was not accused of committing new crimes. Violations included failing to remain appropriately clothed at all times on his property while in public view, and failing to report any and all instances of sexual thoughts and fantasies involving sexual deviance to treatment staff.

A March 7 hearing on Snavely’s proposed placement in Julian was scheduled, but will likely be postponed.

Liberty Healthcare must now find an alternative location for Snavely's placement.

East County News Service

February 7, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) – Hillsdale Middle School on Brabham Street in Rancho San Diego was placed on lockdown for about 15 minutes due to a call reporting a man with what appeared to be a gun in front the school shortly before 3:30 p.m. yesterday. 

Deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station were given a description of the man as they drove to the school. Out of an abundance of caution, deputies requested the school to be placed on lockdown.

Once they arrived at Hillsdale Middle School, located in unincorporated El Cajon, deputies found a man fitting the description outside of campus and detained him for questioning.

“The man, 46, from La Mesa, was found in possession of a non-lethal handgun powered by carbon dioxide (CO2),” says Sgt. Manuel Heredia. After an investigation, it was determined the man had not committed a crime and he was released on scene. The lockdown at the school was lifted after about 15 minutes. No one was hurt.

Deputies continued to work with school staff and Campus Safety Officers from the Cajon Valley Union School District, who have had previous negative encounters with the man.

As a result of these incidents, deputies were able to obtain an emergency temporary protective order against the man, so he cannot come near the school.

As a precaution, Sheriff's Deputies will be conducting extra patrols at Hillsdale Middle School on Friday, February 7.

If you see something, say something. Report any criminal or suspicious activity by calling the San Diego County Sheriff's Office at (858) 868-3200. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1.

East County News Service

February 6, 2025 (Sacramento, CA) --  Today, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 286, which will close what he calls a “dangerous loophole” in California’s Elderly Parole program that allows violent sex offenders and murderers as young as age 50 to be released early. Click here to read the bill’s fact sheet.

“Releasing violent rapists under the so-called ‘elderly parole’ is not only an insult to victims but a grave danger to Californians,” Jones states in a press release.. “Survivors of violent sex crimes and the families of murder victims should never have to live in fear that their attacker could walk free long before serving their full sentence. But under current law, the system is rigged in favor of criminals, forcing the Board of Parole Hearings to justify why these offenders shouldn’t be released. That’s completely backward. The law should protect law-abiding Californians, not violent criminals.”

The current Elderly Parole program was expanded through a last-minute amendment to a budget bill, Assembly Bill 3234 (Ting – 2020), which lowered the age threshold for elderly parole from 60 years of age to 50 years of age during the COVID-19 pandemic. Violent sex offenders can be eligible for elderly parole after serving only 20 years, under AB 3234. Despite its major societal and fiscal impacts, AB 3234 was rushed through the process without a single Senate policy committee hearing, according to Jones.

 “Proponents of AB 3234 vowed that sex offenders and rapists would not be eligible for Elderly Parole, but ‘accidentally’ left out that key protection—and have refused to fix their mistake,” Jones says.”SB 286 will finally correct this dangerous loophole, ensuring that rapists, child molesters, and murderers serve their full terms—no matter their age.”

 Since its passage, multiple child molesters have become eligible for Elderly Parole, forcing victims and their families to fight to keep their perpetrators behind bars.

SB 286 is the second attempt by Jones to close this loophole for rapists in the Elderly Parole program.  His previous bill, SB 445 (2021), was blocked by Senate Democrats in the Public Safety Committee on a party-line vote.

 SB 286 is supported by San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephen. The measure is awaiting assignment to a Senate policy committee for a hearing.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff

February 6, 2025 (El Cajon) -- Several people have been arrested due to criminal activity at a homeless encampment near Willow Glen Drive in unincorporated El Cajon on a variety of charges.

On Tuesday, February 4, around 2 p.m., a small fire broke out at the encampment. Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames. Fortunately, there were no injuries or property damage.

“Deputies with the Sheriff's Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) have conducted multiple outreach operations at this location over the past month, offering services and resources to those experiencing homelessness. Despite these efforts, deputies continued to respond to reports of criminal activity at the encampment,”  says Sergeant Aaron Montan.

On Wednesday, February 5, Sheriff's HART performed an enforcement operation at the encampment. Several individuals were arrested on various charges, including drug-related offenses, outstanding misdemeanor warrants and identity theft.

The encampment has now been cleared and clean-up efforts are underway.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office remains committed to a balanced approach of outreach and enforcement, working closely with community partners to connect individuals in need with available services while addressing criminal activity that impacts public safety, Sgt. Montan says.

To learn more about Sheriff's HART, visit: https://www.sdsheriff.gov/community/homeless-outreach.

To report suspicious or criminal activity, call the Sheriff's Office at (858) 868-3200.