CAMERON PARK, CA – A 47-year-old former fire captain for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) reportedly pleaded guilty to several charges earlier in March, including two counts of first-degree murder, in the 2025 fatal shooting of his girlfriend and her 7-year-old son.
While in excess of 1,000 fire fighters were battling a nearby wildfire on August 21st, 2025, authorities say CAL FIRE Amador El Dorado unit Captain Darin McFarlin fatally shot 29-year-old Marissa Divodi-Lessa and her 7-year-old son Josiah in the couple’s home in Cameron Park.
According to an amended criminal complaint which McFarlin pleaded guilty to on March 13th, the defendant admitted to gunning down his girlfriend while she was trying to use her cellphone, which prosecutors claimed was in an attempt “to prevent testimony” regarding another criminal act not specified that Divodi-Lessa and her son allegedly witnessed.
Another child was reportedly present inside the home at the time of the double homicide, with McFarlin having pleaded guilty to having opened fire on said child who was reportedly unharmed during the incident. Local reports as well as a GoFundMe established by a close friend of victims’ family identified the third victim as Josiah’s older sister, Serafina.
McFarlin was reportedly apprehended hours after El Dorado County Sheriff's deputies responded to the shooting at the couple’s home.
In the GoFundMe established for the victims’ family, a quote was shared by Divodi-Lessa’s surviving daughter where she described how her mother would tuck her and her brother in at night, while detailing the cherished memories she had with her brother before that fateful day where tragedy struck.
“We loved playing card games, watching movies and hanging out. My brother, Jojo, would always play games with me, especially Hide-and-Seek,” Serafina recounted, adding, “That day, we made a box with cute necklaces. The box had a lock on it. It was filled with toys in it (as rewards) for whenever he was good. He was such a sweet boy.”
The charges McFarlin pleaded guilty to were two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, child abuse, murder to prevent testimony, intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily harm, and corporal injury of a cohabitant. Sentencing for the defendant is slated for April 13th.
While in excess of 1,000 fire fighters were battling a nearby wildfire on August 21st, 2025, authorities say CAL FIRE Amador El Dorado unit Captain Darin McFarlin fatally shot 29-year-old Marissa Divodi-Lessa and her 7-year-old son Josiah in the couple’s home in Cameron Park.
According to an amended criminal complaint which McFarlin pleaded guilty to on March 13th, the defendant admitted to gunning down his girlfriend while she was trying to use her cellphone, which prosecutors claimed was in an attempt “to prevent testimony” regarding another criminal act not specified that Divodi-Lessa and her son allegedly witnessed.
Another child was reportedly present inside the home at the time of the double homicide, with McFarlin having pleaded guilty to having opened fire on said child who was reportedly unharmed during the incident. Local reports as well as a GoFundMe established by a close friend of victims’ family identified the third victim as Josiah’s older sister, Serafina.
McFarlin was reportedly apprehended hours after El Dorado County Sheriff's deputies responded to the shooting at the couple’s home.
In the GoFundMe established for the victims’ family, a quote was shared by Divodi-Lessa’s surviving daughter where she described how her mother would tuck her and her brother in at night, while detailing the cherished memories she had with her brother before that fateful day where tragedy struck.
“We loved playing card games, watching movies and hanging out. My brother, Jojo, would always play games with me, especially Hide-and-Seek,” Serafina recounted, adding, “That day, we made a box with cute necklaces. The box had a lock on it. It was filled with toys in it (as rewards) for whenever he was good. He was such a sweet boy.”
The charges McFarlin pleaded guilty to were two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, child abuse, murder to prevent testimony, intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily harm, and corporal injury of a cohabitant. Sentencing for the defendant is slated for April 13th.
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