A Cal Fire captain accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend and her young son in a Cameron Park residence is facing five felony charges, including murder, attempted murder, domestic violence, and child abuse. The case has stunned El Dorado County and left the community grieving the lives of 29-year-old Marissa Divodi-Lessa and her young son, Josiah Divodi-Lessa.
Darin McFarlin, 47, pleaded not guilty Monday in El Dorado County Superior Court to all counts, which include two charges of first-degree murder with special circumstances, attempted murder of a second child identified in court documents only as “J Doe,” infliction of corporal injury on a partner, and felony child abuse. Prosecutors allege Marissa and Josiah were killed because they were witnesses to another crime, though court records do not specify what that underlying crime was.
According to the criminal complaint, McFarlin allegedly assaulted Marissa in a bedroom of a home on Oakwood Road before she attempted to use her cellphone to call for help. Court documents state he then armed himself with a gun and fatally shot her in the dining room. Josiah, described as a witness to the crime, was also shot. Deputies with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene around 9 p.m. Aug. 22, finding Marissa deceased inside the residence. Josiah was transported to a hospital but later died. The second child in the home was not physically harmed but is listed in the charges as a victim of attempted murder and child abuse.
McFarlin fled after the shootings but was tracked down within hours. He was arrested shortly after midnight along Highway 395 in Mono County near the Nevada border, roughly three hours after deputies first responded. A 25-year veteran of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, McFarlin was serving as a captain in the Amador-El Dorado Unit.
He remains in custody at the El Dorado County Jail without bail. Prosecutors confirmed the special circumstances attached to the murder counts mean that, if convicted, McFarlin could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. His next key hearings are set for Sept. 29 for a status update and Oct. 16 for a preliminary hearing.
As the case moves forward, friends, relatives, and neighbors have turned their attention to honoring Marissa and Josiah. Family members described Marissa as “such a light and full of love and life” who adored her children and her faith. “She loved her babies. She loved people. She loved God. She was a hard worker with an indomitable spirit and strong convictions,” they wrote in tribute.
Her surviving daughter shared heartfelt memories of her mother and brother. “She always made me laugh. She would always tuck in at night and we would always tell each other, ‘I love you.’ ‘I love you more.’ ‘I love you most.’ We loved playing card games, watching movies and hanging out. My brother, JoJo, would always play games with me, especially Hide-and-Seek. 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. JoJo had some health issues and Mommy was so good about being sure he had the right foods and proper care. She was the best Mommy everrrrr!”
In the wake of this devastating loss, the family also faces significant financial challenges, including unanticipated legal expenses. A GoFundMe campaign, organized in coordination with Marissa’s mother, Joy Cavaghan, and her husband, Peter Cavaghan, was launched to help cover funeral costs, legal fees, and ongoing care for Marissa’s surviving daughter, Serafina. The fundraiser has already drawn a remarkable response, raising more than $42,000 as of Tuesday morning. Organizers note that any funds beyond burial and legal costs will be used to support Serafina’s future.
The campaign, titled In Loving Memory of Marissa and Josiah Divodi-Lessa, remains open at gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-marissa-and-josiah-divodilessa. On the page, organizers expressed gratitude to the community: “Please continue to share their story. Thank you to all who have showered them with support. They feel such love and gratitude from each and every one of you.”
The tragedy has shaken Cameron Park and the greater El Dorado County community, with residents rallying not only in grief but in solidarity with the Cavaghan and Divodi-Lessa families. As the case proceeds through the courts, the community continues to remember Marissa and Josiah not for the circumstances of their deaths, but for the joy, love, and light they brought to those around them.
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