CAMERON PARK, CA — Former Cal Fire Captain Darin McFarlin was sentenced Monday to multiple life terms without parole for killing his fiancée and her 7-year-old son during an argument over a firefighter movie last August.
El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Mark A. Ralphs handed down two consecutive life sentences without parole, plus an additional life term, 50 years to life, and 15 years for the murders of 29-year-old Marissa Divodi-Lessa and her son Josiah Divodi-Lessa. The 47-year-old McFarlin pleaded guilty in March to multiple charges including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and child abuse. Seven victim impact statements were read in the packed courtroom, including a letter from the surviving 9-year-old daughter.
The killings occurred on August 21, 2025, when the family sat down to watch “Fireproof,” a faith-based drama about a firefighter struggling in his personal life. Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisette Suder said McFarlin became angry at the movie’s negative portrayal of the firefighter character and demanded that Divodi-Lessa acknowledge that the wife in the movie was at fault, not the firefighter. “The family sat down together to watch a movie about a distinguished, well-respected firefighter who was struggling in his personal life,” prosecutors said in a news release. “McFarlin became angry at the portrayal and stormed off to his room. When Divodi-Lessa followed him, an argument took place. McFarlin then strangled her.”
Divodi-Lessa broke free and fled the bedroom, telling McFarlin she was going to call police to report the domestic violence. “Knowing his career would be over if the incident were reported, McFarlin retrieved a loaded firearm and followed her into the dining area, where he found her on the phone with a family member,” the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office said. McFarlin struck her over the head with the gun, checked the phone, and then shot her in the head while both children were in the room. He then turned the weapon on 7-year-old Josiah and killed him. The 9-year-old daughter begged for her life as McFarlin pointed the gun at her, but she managed to escape behind a kitchen wall and flee through a dog door when he told her to exit.
McFarlin was a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection captain in the Amador-El Dorado unit at the time of the murders, having worked for the agency since 2000. Prosecutors described him as “highly focused on his image” and said he was part of a firefighting response to a nearby wildfire when the killings occurred. After the shootings, McFarlin placed his phone on airplane mode and fled the state. He was arrested hours later by the California Highway Patrol and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on US Highway 395 in Mono County, Nevada. El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies had responded to the Cameron Park home on Oakwood Road around 9 p.m. and found both victims with gunshot wounds. Divodi-Lessa was pronounced dead at the scene, while Josiah was transported to a hospital where he later died.
Court documents alleged that McFarlin killed both victims “to prevent testimony,” as they were witnesses to an earlier incident inside the home, though authorities have not publicly detailed what prompted that allegation. The case drew widespread attention due to the bizarre trigger for the violence and McFarlin’s position as a public safety official. McFarlin was fired from Cal Fire after his arrest. A slideshow tribute honoring the victims was presented during the sentencing hearing, reminding those present of the lives lost. The surviving 9-year-old daughter’s victim impact statement offered what prosecutors called “a small glimpse into her new reality” following the traumatic events.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisette Suder emphasized during the hearing that McFarlin was not a hero despite his profession as a firefighter. “She emphasized that the true heroes are the brave men and women who responded, worked to solve the case, and sought justice for the victims,” according to court reports. District Attorney Vern Pierson called the killings “a horrific and senseless act of violence that stole two innocent lives and forever changed a family.” Pierson added that the sentence “ensures that the defendant will never again have the opportunity to harm another person. Our hearts remain with the surviving child and all those who loved Marissa and her son.”
The case represents one of the most shocking domestic violence incidents in El Dorado County’s recent history, involving a trusted public safety official who turned deadly over a trivial dispute. McFarlin had originally pleaded not guilty to all charges but changed his plea to guilty last month, avoiding a trial that could have resulted in the death penalty. The District Attorney’s Office commended the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office for their swift response and thorough investigation. McFarlin will serve his state sentence consecutively, ensuring he will never be eligible for release.
