A California fire captain, Darin McFarlin, pleaded guilty to murdering his girlfriend and her young son amid a major wildfire response.
Case Details
McFarlin, 47, from the CalFire Amador-El Dorado Unit, admitted to two counts of first-degree murder for the August 2025 shooting deaths of 29-year-old Marissa N. Divodi-Lessa and her 7-year-old son Josiah in their Cameron Park home, east of Sacramento. He also pleaded guilty to attempted murder and child abuse after firing at another child present who survived unharmed.
Incident Circumstances
Prosecutors stated McFarlin shot Divodi-Lessa as she tried to use her cellphone in the dining room, killing her and Josiah—allegedly to silence them as witnesses to an unreleased prior crime. This occurred around 9 p.m. while over 1,000 firefighters, including McFarlin’s unit, battled a nearby blaze; deputies found the victims and arrested him hours later.
Sentencing Ahead
Special allegations include multiple murders, preventing testimony, firearm discharge causing great injury, and corporal injury to a cohabitant. McFarlin faces sentencing on April 13 in El Dorado County. A GoFundMe honors Divodi-Lessa as a devoted mother and Josiah as a sweet boy who loved games like hide-and-seek.
