Fire Captain’s Violent Crime Leads to Life Sentence in El Dorado County Court Decision

An El Dorado County judge sentenced a former fire captain to life in prison Monday for the August 2025 murders of his fiancée and her 7-year-old son following an argument over a movie.

According to Law & Crime, Superior Court Judge Mark A. Ralphs ordered Darin McFarlin, 47, to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. McFarlin, a former captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also received an additional life term and 65 years.

The sentencing followed McFarlin’s March guilty plea to charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and child abuse.

The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office said the violence began on Aug.21, 2025, while the family watched the film “Fireproof.” Prosecutors said McFarlin became angry over the movie’s portrayal of a firefighter.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisette Suder said McFarlin demanded that his fiancee, Marissa Divodi-Lessa, 29, agree that the wife in the movie was at fault for the characters’ marital problems.

McFarlin strangled Divodi-Lessa during an initial argument in a bedroom, the district attorney’s office said. When she escaped and attempted to call for help, McFarlin followed her with a loaded firearm, as per Law & Crime.

Prosecutors said McFarlin struck Divodi-Lessa with the gun before shooting her in the head. He then shot and killed her 7-year-old son, Josiah Divodi-Lessa.

A 9-year-old daughter was present during the shootings. The district attorney’s office said the girl escaped the home through a dog door after McFarlin pointed the weapon at her. Authorities said McFarlin put his phone in airplane mode and fled to Nevada, where police later arrested him. At the time of the killings, McFarlin was part of a state firefighting response to a nearby wildfire.

During the hearing, seven people provided victim impact statements to the court. This included a letter written by the surviving 9-year-old daughter.

"The family sat down together to watch a movie about a distinguished, well-respected firefighter who was struggling in his personal life," the district attorney's office said in a news release. "McFarlin became angry at the portrayal and stormed off to his room."

District Attorney Vern Pierson said the killings were “a horrific and senseless act of violence.” Suder told the court that McFarlin’s actions were not heroic despite his career as a first responder, ABC10.

Defense representatives did not immediately comment on sentencing. The court ordered the sentences to run consecutively to ensure McFarlin remains in prison for the remainder of his life.