Author: KESQ

City News Service

EL CAJON, Calif. (KESQ) – A woman who fatally stabbed her wife, a veteran state firefighter who served in the Coachella Valley, at their Ramona home pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder.

Yolanda Marodi, 54, admitted Tuesday to killing her spouse of two years, Cal Fire Capt. Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, at the couple’s Rancho Villa Road home on the night of Feb. 17, 2025.

Marodi is slated to be sentenced next month to 36 years to life in state prison for the slaying. Her guilty plea includes admissions to having a serious prior felony conviction, which pertains to a voluntary manslaughter conviction for fatally stabbing her husband in San Bernardino County more than 20 years ago.

According to an arrest-warrant declaration filed by a detective with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Rebecca Marodi sought to leave the marriage shortly before she was killed.

The day after the slaying, Yolanda Marodi sent someone a text message stating, “Becky came home and told me she was leaving me, she met someone else, all the messages were lies. We had a big fight and I hurt her … I’m sorry,” the declaration states.

Testimony from a preliminary hearing held earlier this year indicated the victim sustained 23 stab wounds to her neck, chest and abdomen.

Rebecca Marodi, who had worked for the state firefighting agency for more than 30 years, died at the scene.

The victim’s mother, Lorena Marodi, who lived at the home with her daughter and daughter-in-law, testified that on the day of the killing, Yolanda Marodi spoke to her about her marriage, something Lorena said had “never” happened before.

During that conversation, Yolanda said, “She and Becky had some things to work out, but there wouldn’t be any fighting” when Rebecca returned home.

Lorena went out with friends that evening. At the end of the night, as she was dropping her friends off, she drove past her home and noticed Yolanda’s car was gone, she testified.

When she returned home, she found a trail of blood leading inside the house, found her daughter’s motionless body, and called 911.

Sheriff’s deputy Angela Peratis, who was one of the first deputies to respond to the home, said she and her partner found the victim face down in a hallway.

The deputies attempted life-saving measures until firefighters arrived and took over, at which point Peratis testified that she overheard one of the firefighters say, “Is that Becky?”

The warrant declaration states that footage from a Ring camera captured images of Rebecca Marodi fleeing their home as her wife chased her.

The video footage was not played in court, but sheriff’s Homicide Det. Jessica Ricca testified that in her review of the video, the victim can be heard calling out for her mother, to which Yolanda Marodi responds, “She’s not here.”

The two go out of frame for some time, and when they appear again, Rebecca Marodi appeared to be “covered in blood,” Ricca testified. At one point, the bloodied victim was “yelling out, ‘Yolanda! Please… I don’t want to die,”’ the warrant declaration states. Yolanda Marodi, who appeared to be holding a knife and seemingly had blood on her arms, responded, “You should have thought about that before,” according to the document.

The victim repeatedly asked her wife to call 911 before the pair re-entered the home, the declaration states.

About 10 minutes later, the camera recorded video of Yolanda Marodi loading items into a Chevrolet Equinox and then driving off, the declaration states.

Yolanda Marodi crossed the U.S.-Mexico border about an hour after the killing. Mexican authorities arrested her just over a month later near a hotel in the Ferrocarril neighborhood of Mexicali, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

Rebecca Mardoni served more than 30 years with Cal Fire, mainly in Riverside County with assignments in Indian Wells and Rancho Mirage. Her service began in 1993 as a volunteer firefighter in Moreno Valley in Riverside County. She went on to serve as a seasonal firefighter in Riverside and San Bernardino counties before being promoted to fire apparatus engineer in 2007 and achieving the rank of captain in 2022 at the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

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City News Service

BLYTHE (CNS) – Building upgrades and bulking up staff remain objectives in the ongoing turnaround plan for bankrupt Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, officials said today.

“Every week, we learn something new about this hospital,” Interim Hospital CEO Michelle DeArmond said Tuesday. “We brought operational expertise from the Riverside University Health System, but this hospital has its own history, its own way of doing things. The learning (has gone) both ways.”

DeArmond was tapped for the executive post following the resignation in April of Sandra Anaya, who had been at the helm for 13 years, according to the Palo Verde Healthcare District.

The district said plans are afoot to modernize treatment rooms and the cardiopulmonary unit, as well as refurbish and expand the employee entrance, and install appropriate Americans with Disabilities Act signage around the edifice, located at 250 N. First St.

The process of overhauling the hospital roof and renovating the cafeteria is underway, while hundreds of boxes of decades-old documents are being removed, officials said.

In May, more than two dozen certified emergency room physicians were added to the hospital’s payroll for 24-hour patient intake and treatment. However, additional slots remain unfilled, including radiology, environmental services, ultrasound and cardiopulmonary technicians, according to thedistrict.

Last week, an open house was held, dubbed the “180-Day Scoop,” to give area residents a first-hand look at ongoing changes and answer some of their questions.

The county Board of Supervisors in February signed off on a six-month financial and technical rescue plan to bring the facility back to a sustainable condition.

The board authorized a $3.44 million allocation from the General Fund as payment to the California Department of Health Services on behalf of the healthcare district. That followed a separate $1 million General Fund disbursal directly benefiting the hospital. The money was the core of a stabilizationloan to keep the insolvent hospital afloat.

According to the district, the county’s outlays enabled the district to tap into taxpayer-backed credit available under Medi-Cal totaling $9.9 million to bolster hospital operations. Afterward, the district was further awarded a $3 million state grant, which came on the heels of $1.8 million in federal relief.

A “strike team” authorized by the board and composed of RUHS medical professionals initiated a reformation on Feb. 23 intended to stabilize the hospital’s emergency clinic.

Under the management services agreement between the county and PVHD, RUHS staff are implementing all necessary processes connected to the strike team support plan, with the goal of maintaining emergency operations at the cash-strapped hospital.

Without emergency services at the facility, the area’s roughly 20,000 residents would lose access to “timely treatment for life-threatening conditions where minutes matter,” according to a county statement in January. Outside of the hospital, the nearest option for emergency healthcare is more than 70 miles away.

The monetary agreement between the county and district specifies the county will have “first priority” status among the district’s creditors and will not be liable for any of its debts.

Last September, the PVHD Board of Directors voted to seek federal Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection while efforts were made to stanch ongoing financial losses. Administrators noted the hospital had been struggling to remain afloat since the start of the current decade, with revenue streams withering while patient loads remained unchanged.

The California Health Facilities Financing Authority extended an $8.5 million infusion from the Distressed Hospital Program in 2023, but that turned into a short-term fix, according to the district.

Officials expressed frustration at the time about the inability to recruit a chief financialofficer who would stay the course in sorting out possible solutions. Four CFOscame and went in an 18-month span. The possibility of a wholesale county takeover of the hospital’semergency department has not been ruled out publicly.

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Kiera McKinney

PALM DESERT, CALIF. (KESQ)- As temperatures continue to climb into the triple digits, more people are relying on grocery delivery services.

What happens when those groceries are left sitting outside in 115-120 degree heat? How quickly refrigerated and frozen foods can become unsafe in extreme desert temperatures and whether current food safety guidelines change in this kind of heat.

Dr. William Woo, the Assistant Chief of family medicine at Kaiser Permanente said “Do not rely on things like smell alone. Your food may smell normal, may look normal, may even taste normal. But if it’s been out in the heat too long, it may make you sick.”

Dr. Woo says perishable items like meat, fish, and dairy products are some of the biggest conerns. He also recommends bringing deliveries inside as soon as possible and refreiderating items if you’re not eating them right away.

“When the temperature rises into the low hundreds and one teen area. The bacteria really starts to multiply. Your food could spoil and become dangerous in as little as one hour,” says Dr. Woo.

That can lead to food borne illness caused by bacteria such as salmonella, E.coli, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus.

Customers told me they’ve also changed how they order food during the summer months, “Ive gotten my groceries delivered from Walmart and Costco. In the heat I tend to pick up my ice cream and cold things myself, and I use a freezer bag and immediately when I pick it up in the store, I put it in the freezer bag,” said Mary Volkman.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)– After serving generations of locals and visitors for more than 50 years, Billy Reed’s restaurant in Palm Springs is beginning a new chapter.

The iconic restaurant has new owners who say preserving the restaurant’s legacy is their top priority.

Billy Reed founded the restaurant in 1975 and it has long been considered more than just a place to eat, but rather served as a gathering place over the decades. The new owners say customers can expect many of the restaurant’s signature touches to stay the same.

“So many people around the world were shocked and terrified when it went on the market, and we are in that same group. So to be able to be the ones to help keep it going for the next 50 is a huge honor,” said Josh Jennings, a new owner of Billy Reed’s.

The new owners hope to host a community celebration later this year. For more information watch Peter Daut’s full interview and stay with News Channel 3.

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Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — The goal is to “fit in,” according to MedlinePlus. For some students, that pressure can lead to experimenting most commonly with substances like alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. But the dangers can be fatal.

In 2025, 41% of 12th-graders reported drinking alcohol, and 25% reported using marijuana.

Additionally, the Drug Enforcement Administration reports that fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45.

While parents worry about substance use year-round, these substances can be distracting during school hours and inhibit a productive learning environment. In fact, some students are buying or making discreet compartments to bring devices to school in their backpacks.

“There’s a lot of disguises out there, so just be cautious of anything that looks out of place. Devices that may look like highlighters, pens or even hoodie sweaters,” Palm Springs Unified School District Director of Security and Disaster Preparedness Alex Borrego said.

Digging deeper, News Channel 3 spoke with officials from Hazelden Betty Ford to learn more about how parents should approach conversations. Their advice: Prevention starts with education and a conversation.

“The biggest mistake I see parents make is that my kids won’t do that,” Melissa Hawkins, a clinical supervisor at Hazelden Betty Ford, said. “It doesn’t matter what school you go to, it’s everywhere.”

She said keeping an open, two-sided dialogue is the best way to build a mutual understanding about substance use and family expectations.

For more resources:FindHelpNational Institute on Drug Abuse

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Dakota Makinen

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Hundreds of classified employees from the Palm Springs Unified School District gathered today at Rancho Mirage High School for a day of professional development ahead of back to school beginning tomorrow.

District officials say the annual training is designed to equip classified staff with new skills and resources to better support students and teachers for the upcoming school year.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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Tommy Gallegos

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2026) — Eisenhower Health has been recognized as the No. 1 hospital in the Inland Empire by U.S. News & World Report in its 2026–2027 Best Hospitals rankings. The hospital also ranked No. 22 in California, placing it among the state’s top 5.5% of hospitals.

The annual rankings evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide across 14 adult specialties and 23 procedures and conditions. Only 16% of hospitals earned a Best Hospitals designation, with Eisenhower recognized for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care and strong clinical outcomes.

“This recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of our physicians, nurses, employees and volunteers who are committed to exceptional care every day,” said Martin Massiello, President and CEO of Eisenhower Health.

U.S. News says it bases its rankings on objective measures, including patient outcomes, risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and patient experience.

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Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – A fire burned a trailer and one-quarter acre, including at least 10 palm trees, Monday night in Coachella.

The fire was reported just before 8:10 p.m. near the intersection of Tyler Street and Avenue 47.

The forward rate of spread was stopped at 8:35 p.m., CAL FIRE confirmed. Crews will remain on scene for several hours extinguishing smoldering material and completing mop-up.

SoCalGas was requested to the scene for a utility shutoff.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Jesus Reyes

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A fire has damaged at least three mobile homes and spread to nearby vegetation in Desert Hot Springs Monday evening.

The fire was first reported at around 6:40 p.m. on the 14700 block of Palm Drive, inside the Skys Haven community.

Battalion Chief Ryan Kirby said the fire started in the rear of one of the mobile homes and spread to two other mobile homes.

A 2nd alarm was requested, bringing in additional resources to the incident. The Palm Springs and Cathedral City fire departments were called in to assist. Southern California Edison was also called in due to power lines down; crews were able to mitigate the issue.

The fire was contained by 8:45 p.m.

No injuries have been reported. The Red Cross was requested, but there was no word on whether anyone was displaced.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Karen Devine

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A suspicious death in the desert is now reigniting questions tonight about another mysterious death and a man behind bars for targeting gay men.

Dan Mulcahey’s body was found near Palm Springs last week after being reported missing for days.

When News Channel 3 learned his identity, we recognized him as the man who spent years seeking justice for his husband, Darrin Tharp. That’s when we began digging again.

Mulcahey told News Channel 3 in 2023 he did not believe his husband’s death was an accidental overdose; he believed someone else was involved. At the time, his only evidence was a visitor sign-in sheet showing a name of “Issac” who arrived at Tharp’s home at 11:27 p.m. on April 15, 2023.

“I don’t understand why I can’t have a police report. I still have no idea who found him, what time, who called the police, who called the ambulance, who was here, and that’s all I wanted to know,” Mulcahey said in 2023.

The coroner’s report obtained by News Channel 3 confirms the alias used was that of Hakan Isik.

The coroner’s report states he was with Tharp and also called 9-1-1. Isik told investigators he found Tharp unresponsive in bed after the two had sexual relations. He also said they had used methamphetamine that morning. The coroner ruled Tharp died from acute methamphetamine intoxication, with heart disease as a contributing factor.

We never had the opportunity to discuss those findings with Mulcahey but continued asking why Tharp’s death had not resulted in charges against Isik.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said the case was submitted to the district attorney in December of 2023, eight months after Tharp died. The D.A.’s office told us it returned the case to the Sheriff’s department in January of 2025 for further investigation.

Prosecutors said Isik’s sex-crimes case is moving forward and a separate case could still be filed if investigators recommend additional charges.

The Sheriff’s Department now confirms the investigation remains ongoing-and now an investigation into the suspicious death of Dan Mulcahey, but is it connected or a coincidence?

This after years of heartbreak. Dan Mulcahey appeared to be turning the page. He’d moved into a new home in Palm Springs, neighbors telling News Channel 3 he was furnishing it, appeared to be settling in— and were shocked to learn of his death.

Isik remains jailed awaiting trial. His next court date is November 3 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. He faces eight felony sexual assault charges and four misdemeanor counts involving seven alleged victims — most of whom met him online for sex.

Darrin Tharp never had the opportunity to explain what happened that night. Dan Mulcahey spent the final years of his life fighting for answers.

We will continue pressing law enforcement for those answers.

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