Former Cal Fire captain pleads guilty in deaths of girlfriend and her son, officials say

CAMERON PARK, Calif. — Darin Blake McFarlin, a former Cal Fire captain, has pleaded guilty to the shooting deaths of his girlfriend, Marissa Herzog, and her 7-year-old son, Josiah "JoJo" Divodi-Lessa, during a domestic violence incident in August 2025. According to prosecutors, the double homicide occurred on August 21, 2025, inside the family's Cameron Park home. Officials stated that McFarlin, 47, attacked Herzog in their bedroom following a dispute. Herzog attempted to flee to the dining room to call for help, at which point McFarlin shot and killed her. He then shot and killed Josiah, who witnessed the attack. Herzog's then-9-year-old daughter, Serafina, was also present during the domestic violence attack but managed to escape the residence to seek assistance. In addition to the two counts of murder, McFarlin pleaded guilty to charges related to the attack on the surviving child. Prosecutors revealed that the initial argument escalated after McFarlin reacted with hostility to a film the couple was watching that depicted a firefighter in a negative light. McFarlin, a Cal Fire employee since 2000, was terminated by the agency shortly after his arrest in Mono County. In March 2026, McFarlin entered guilty pleas on all counts. On April 13, 2026, he was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole. During the sentencing hearing, family members shared statements detailing the profound impact of the loss and the ongoing emotional trauma experienced by the surviving daughter.