The suspect and fugitive wife of her beloved, murdered California fire chief, appears in her first courthouse and is one step closer to learning her fate.
After arrest hearing Wednesday afternoon, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced that 53-year-old Yolanda Orezinik Zach Malody has been charged with murder with the stab wounds of her spouse, Rebecca “Becki” Malody.
Stephen's office said Orezinikzak Malody pleaded not guilty at a hearing Wednesday.
Oreziniczach Malody is held without bail and will be 25 years in prison if convicted.
The wife of a murdered California captain gets treatment before a prison appointment
Yolanda Malodi is depicted on the left after being arrested in Mexico. Photo by Rebecca Malodi and Yolanda Malodi. (Baja California Citizen Security Office / Yolanda Malodi / Facebook)
On Sunday, Mexican authorities caught Oreginikzak Malodi, who had been running for more than a month since being named the suspect on February 17th in the death of Rebecca Malodi.
“We would like to thank the Sheriff's Office for thorough investigations and law enforcement on both sides of the border for finding and arresting this dangerous accused.
Investigators are still working to gather more information to determine the circumstances and motivations behind Colonel Malodi's death.
“Rebecca Malody was the beloved firefighter captain who gave his life to defending his life against others, including the recent fight with Eton Fire near Los Angeles.
Yolanda is said to have been seen in surveillance video arguing with Rebecca and physically attacking her on the day of her fatal stab wounds.
The wife of a murdered California wife naves in Mexico after a few weeks of running
The suspect, who was accused of murdering his wife, Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Malodi, on a domestic incident in San Diego County, was arrested a month later in Baja California, Mexico. (Fox 5/kusi)
Arrest warrant, Obtained by KABC, Details of Rebecca tells Yolanda that she will leave her and end her marriage a week before she is murdered.
The detective said he could hear screaming, “Yolanda, I don't want to die.” In the report, Yolanda responded to Rebecca, saying, “You should have been thinking about it.”
Surveillance video filmed Yolanda leaving the couple's home before Rebecca's mother arrived. Rebecca was found with several injuries to her neck, chest and back, and authorities said she was consistent with the stab wounds.
The wife of the murdered California fire chief's fugitive is “scary” former stepmother
Authorities say the wife of California fire chief Rebecca Malody has been identified as having a suspect in her murder. (Yolanda Marodi Facebook)
Yolanda also served in prison for more than 13 years before being released in 2013 for voluntary manslaughter charges in the death of her then-husband, James Joseph Olezinichizak Jr. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Investigators are still working to gather more information to determine the circumstances and motivations behind Colonel Malodi's death.
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“The murder of this intimate partner is a reminder that there are resources for individuals who are afraid of safety,” Stephen said.
A status meeting and a bail review hearing were set for April 28th, and a preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for June 24th.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten from Fox News contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, murder, national crime cases, illegal immigration and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
