A California fire captain will spend the remainder of his life in prison after committing a horrific double murder that stemmed from a domestic dispute. Darin McFarlin, a 47-year-old former captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the killings of his fiancée, 29-year-old Marissa Divodi-Lessa, and her 7-year-old son, Josiah.
According to New York Post, the events that led to this tragedy began on August 21 at around 9 PM inside a home in Cameron Park, located just east of Sacramento. According to reports, the violence was triggered by a disagreement over a movie. McFarlin was watching the Christian-themed film Fireproof, which centers on a fireman navigating difficulties in his marriage, when he suddenly became enraged.
He stormed out of the room, leading to a heated argument with Divodi-Lessa in their bedroom. The situation escalated quickly from a verbal disagreement to physical violence. McFarlin initially attempted to strangle Divodi-Lessa. She managed to flee the bedroom and stated her intention to file a domestic violence report against him.
A simple disagreement that destroyed an entire family
Prosecutors noted that McFarlin realized his career would be finished if such an incident were reported. In a calculated move to prevent testimony regarding his actions, he retrieved a firearm. He struck Divodi-Lessa over the head with the gun and subsequently shot her while she was on the phone with her father. Tragically, this occurred in front of her two children. After killing Divodi-Lessa, McFarlin turned the weapon on her son, Josiah, a second-grade student at Blue Oak Elementary School.
The young boy was shot in the chest and later pronounced dead at a hospital. McFarlin also pointed the gun at the victim’s 9-year-old daughter, Serafina. The young girl begged for her life, and McFarlin eventually instructed her to exit the house through a doggy door. Police later discovered the child safely hiding outside when they arrived at the scene.
El Dorado County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home, where they found Divodi-Lessa dead and her son suffering from his injuries. Investigators identified McFarlin as the primary suspect almost immediately. He fled the scene but was arrested by authorities in Nevada shortly after midnight on August 22. Following his arrest, he was booked into the El Dorado County Jail without bond. He faced charges of two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, child abuse, and domestic violence.
The legal proceedings brought to light the devastating impact this crime had on the surviving family. During the sentencing hearing, a victim letter written by Serafina was read aloud to the court. “Ever since Darin killed my mother and brother JoJo, I have been really sad and in shock. I miss them every single day,” the letter stated. Serafina had previously described her mother as a light, full of love and life, and remembered her brother as a sweet boy who required extra care.
When given an opportunity to speak after his sentence was handed down, McFarlin offered a brief apology. He stated that he was “truly very sorry for what I did, especially to Serafina.” He added, “And I will be held accountable for this.” The apology was met with immediate hostility from the gallery, where a family member of the victims shouted “Coward!” at him. District Attorney Vern Pierson addressed the court during the sentencing, emphasizing the gravity of the crimes.
“This was a horrific and senseless act of violence that stole two innocent lives and forever changed a family,” Pierson remarked. He added that the sentence ensures the defendant will never have the opportunity to harm another person again. McFarlin had been employed with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection since 2000. Following the incident, he was placed on unpaid administrative leave before ultimately being fired.
Cal Fire Director Joe Tyler expressed deep sympathy for the victims and their community, noting that he was heartbroken by the event and that the incident had a profound impact on agency personnel. Prosecutors had alleged that the murders were intentional and aimed at silencing witnesses to a previous crime committed by the captain, though specific details regarding that prior crime were not disclosed.
This case stands as a grim reminder of how quickly domestic situations can turn fatal.
Published: Apr 20, 2026 04:15 pm