Ex-Cal Fire Captain Sentenced to Multiple Life Terms for Murder of Fiancée and Her Child After Dispute Over Film

A former California fire captain, Darin McFarlin, has been sentenced to multiple life terms after the August 21, 2025, killings of his fiancée, 29-year-old Marissa Divodi-Lessa Herzog, and her 7-year-old son. The El Dorado County District Attorney's Office says the violence began after an argument about the 2008 film Fireproof.

According to the D.A.'s press release and law-enforcement statements, McFarlin, 47, who had been employed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) since 2000, became upset while watching the movie with his fiancée and her two children. He left the room in anger; Divodi-Lessa followed him, and the two argued.

Prosecutors said McFarlin strangled Divodi-Lessa during the confrontation. She fled the room saying she intended to file a domestic violence report. Fearing the end of his career if the incident were reported, officials say McFarlin retrieved a loaded firearm, followed her into the dining area and assaulted her. He then shot her in the head while her 7-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter were present; he also fatally shot the boy.

The D.A.'s release states the 9-year-old pleaded for mercy and managed to escape by running around a kitchen wall. McFarlin reportedly told her to exit through a dog door, put his phone in airplane mode and fled the scene. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office located and detained him just after midnight in Mono County without incident. The 9-year-old was later found safe.

At a sentencing hearing on Monday, April 13, McFarlin apologized, telling the court he was "truly very sorry," and singled out Divodi-Lessa's surviving daughter in his remarks. The court imposed two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 50-years-to-life term and a consecutive 15-year term.

District Attorney Vern Pierson called the killings "a horrific and senseless act of violence that stole two innocent lives and forever changed a family," saying the sentence "ensures that the defendant will never again have the opportunity to harm another person."

McFarlin had served as a captain at Cal Fire since 2000 and was later terminated following his arrest. The El Dorado County D.A.'s office and local law enforcement provided the timeline and details of the investigation.

This case has drawn attention because of the apparent trigger — a dispute over a movie portrayal — and the severe sentence handed down to a former public safety official. The surviving child and the family continue to receive support from local agencies and community services.