Placerville Newswire
  • Crime
  • Culture
No Result
View All Result
Get Started
Placerville NewsWire
  • Crime
  • Culture
No Result
View All Result
Placerville NewsWire
No Result
View All Result

Cal Fire captain charged in Cameron Park double homicide; pleads not guilty

Prosecutors file five felony counts, including special-circumstance murder; suspect appeared in El Dorado County Superior Court Monday

Cris Alarcon by Cris Alarcon
August 26, 2025
in Crime, News
734 31
0
Cal Fire captain charged in Cameron Park double homicide; pleads not guilty

Darin McFarlin, 47, a Cal Fire captain

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsappReddit

CAMERON PARK, Calif., Aug. 26, 2025 — A Cal Fire captain made an initial appearance Monday in El Dorado County Superior Court after prosecutors filed five felony counts accusing him of killing his girlfriend and her young son and attempting to kill another child.

The defendant, Darin Blake McFarlin, 47, a captain with Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado unit, pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder with special-circumstance allegations, one count of attempted murder, one count of corporal injury to a cohabitant and one count of felony child abuse, according to the criminal complaint filed by the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office. The complaint says the special-circumstance allegations include that the victims were killed because they were witnesses to another crime.

You might also like

Placerville Man Arrested for Shooting left another man injured

El Dorado County Sheriff’s Calls for Service, Oct. 2, 2025: Disturbances, Theft, and Arrests

October 3, 2025
EDSO Eagle

El Dorado County Sheriff Arrest Log, Oct. 2, 2025: Assault, Fraud, and Fugitive Warrants

October 2, 2025

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to a report of a shooting about 9 p.m. on Aug. 21 at a home in the 3000 block of Oakwood Road in Cameron Park. Inside, officers found a woman who was pronounced dead at the scene and a boy who later died at a hospital; a second child who lived in the home was found alive. McFarlin was detained in Mono County hours after the shooting and later booked into the El Dorado County Jail.

The coroner has identified the adult victim as Marissa N. Divodi-Lessa, 29, of Shingle Springs; family members have identified the boy as Josiah Divodi-Lessa, a second-grade student at Blue Oak Elementary School. Local officials and school district leaders said counselors would be made available to support students and staff. Community members have started fundraisers for the family.

The criminal complaint filed Aug. 25 lays out specific allegations about what led investigators to the charges. It alleges

McFarlin “inflicted corporal injury” on the adult victim in a bedroom, and that the victim left the room and used her cell phone “before he obtained the gun and went out to the dining room to kill her.”

The complaint also alleges McFarlin personally discharged a firearm and that the offenses carry possible penalties of death or life in prison without parole if the special circumstances are proven.

Cal Fire confirmed it is aware of the arrest and said the agency is monitoring the situation. The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office filed the complaint and said the case will move through standard pretrial processes; the DA’s office has scheduled a status hearing and has set a preliminary hearing date.

What’s next: Court documents and local coverage list a status hearing on Sept. 29 and a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 16. Prosecutors and defense counsel will exchange discovery and prepare motions ahead of those dates.

Public safety and resources: Anyone affected by domestic violence or in need of support is encouraged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (or text START to 88788). Local law enforcement asks anyone with relevant information about the case to contact the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

Cris Alarcon

Cris Alarcon

Former Member: Executive Board of Directors, Treasurer, Boys & Girl Club of El Dorado County Western Slope. - Former Member: Board of Directors, Treasurer, Food Bank of El Dorado County. - Opening Team Dealer at Red Hawk Casino - Retried EDC Elections Department Inspector. - Youngest Charter Member of the Hangtown Kennel Club. - Political Strategist and Campaign Manager.

Related Stories

Placerville Man Arrested for Shooting left another man injured

El Dorado County Sheriff’s Calls for Service, Oct. 2, 2025: Disturbances, Theft, and Arrests

by Cris Alarcon
October 3, 2025

Deputies logged a long day Oct. 2, 2025—disturbances, thefts, civil disputes, and one arrest stretched from Cameron Park to Tahoe

EDSO Eagle

El Dorado County Sheriff Arrest Log, Oct. 2, 2025: Assault, Fraud, and Fugitive Warrants

by Cris Alarcon
October 2, 2025

El Dorado County’s Oct. 2 arrest log shows a violent start, fraud in Placerville, a Tahoe fugitive, and probation crackdowns...

El Dorado County Supervisors Approve $1.12 Billion Budget for 2025-26

El Dorado County Supervisors Approve $1.12 Billion Budget for 2025-26

by Cris Alarcon
October 2, 2025

El Dorado County adopts a $1.12B budget for FY 2025-26, boosting reserves while bracing for slower revenue growth

Placerville Man Arrested for Shooting left another man injured

El Dorado County Sheriff Activity Log: Violence, Theft, and Disturbances – Oct. 1, 2025

by Cris Alarcon
October 2, 2025

Deputies dealt with violence, theft, trespassing, and late-night vandalism across El Dorado County on Oct. 1, 2025

Recommended

Hard Freeze Warning Issued for El Dorado County

Hard Freeze Warning Issued for El Dorado County

November 17, 2024
Fragility on the Trail: A Motorcycle Crash

Fragility on the Trail: A Motorcycle Crash

August 18, 2024

Popular Story

  • Placerville Man Sentenced for Throwing Chairs and Resisting Police

    Placerville Man Sentenced for Throwing Chairs and Resisting Police

    707 shares
    Share 283 Tweet 177
  • El Dorado Sheriff’s Blotter: Arrests, Death Call, and Disturbances – Sept. 30, 2025

    697 shares
    Share 279 Tweet 174
  • El Dorado County Sheriff Arrest Log: Felonies, Drugs, and Probation Violations – Oct. 1, 2025

    660 shares
    Share 264 Tweet 165
  • El Dorado County Sheriff’s Blotter: Fights, Trespassers, and Midnight Arrests – Sept. 28, 2025

    645 shares
    Share 258 Tweet 161
  • El Dorado County Sheriff Arrest Log, Oct. 2, 2025: Assault, Fraud, and Fugitive Warrants

    642 shares
    Share 257 Tweet 161
  • Buy JNews
  • Support Forum
  • Pre-sale Question
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Placerville Newswire Commentary is produced by the Placerville Newswire, a private service focusing on Placerville Local Area issues. All conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s). You may find us in El Dorado County Placerville, CA 95667

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Landing Page
  • Buy JNews
  • Support Forum
  • Pre-sale Question
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Placerville Newswire Commentary is produced by the Placerville Newswire, a private service focusing on Placerville Local Area issues. All conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s). You may find us in El Dorado County Placerville, CA 95667