A California firefighter has been arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, and child abuse after the shocking deaths of his girlfriend and her young son.
Firefighter Accused of Double Murder
The suspect has been identified as Darin McFarlin, 47, a fire captain with CalFire’s Amador-El Dorado unit. He is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend Marissa N. Divodi-Lessa, 29, and her son, Josiah, inside their Cameron Park home, about 30 miles east of Sacramento.
How the Shooting Happened
According to prosecutors, McFarlin shot Divodi-Lessa in the dining room while she tried to use her phone. Her son, Josiah, was also shot and later died at the hospital. Investigators say another child inside the home was also targeted, but survived the attempted killing.
Possible Motive Behind the Killings
Court documents suggest that the motive may have been to stop the victims from testifying about a crime they had witnessed. Prosecutors stated that both Marissa and Josiah were “intentionally killed because of that fact,” but did not reveal further details about the crime in question.
Community Shock and Investigation
Deputies from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a shooting around 9 p.m. Thursday at a home on Oakwood Road. They found Marissa and her son suffering from gunshot wounds. Marissa was declared dead at the scene, while Josiah passed away at the hospital.
McFarlin was arrested within hours and booked on two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, child abuse, and domestic violence. He is being held at the El Dorado County Jail without bond.
Victims Remembered
Family members identified Josiah, lovingly called JoJo, as a second grader at Blue Oak Elementary School. A GoFundMe page created for the family shared a heartfelt message from Marissa’s daughter, who is now left grieving the loss of both her mother and younger brother.
CalFire’s Response
McFarlin worked as a fire captain for CalFire, the agency responsible for fighting California’s devastating wildfires. The department told local media that they are monitoring the case. At the time of the killings, more than 1,000 of McFarlin’s colleagues were busy battling a nearby wildfire.
This heartbreaking tragedy has left a community in shock and a family torn apart. A firefighter — someone trusted to protect lives — is now accused of taking the lives of his loved ones. With McFarlin behind bars, many questions remain unanswered about the motive, while the victims’ family struggles to cope with a devastating loss.
