A California fire captain has been charged with killing his girlfriend and her young son, authorities said.
Darin McFarlin, 47, was arrested Friday after El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies accused him of fatally shooting an adult and a juvenile male on Aug. 21 inside a Cameron Park home, according to a press release. Deputies found both victims with gunshot wounds; the woman was declared dead at the scene, while the boy later died at a hospital. (RELATED: REPORT: Prosecutors Charge Two After Deputies Discover 21 Dead Dogs In Boarding Facility)
The victims were identified as Marissa Divodi-Lessa, 29, and her son, Josiah, according to KCRA News. Relatives told the outlet that Divodi-Lessa had been dating McFarlin. Deputies said another child inside the home was found unharmed, though investigators have not explained that child’s connection to the case.
Prosecutors allege McFarlin killed Divodi-Lessa and her son because they witnessed a crime he had committed and could have testified against him, according to Law & Crime News. The outlet did not detail what that crime was.
McFarlin is a fire captain with Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado unit, according to KCRA News. He was off duty at the time of the alleged killings and is being held without bond. He has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, ABC10 News reported.
Divodi-Lessa is survived by a daughter. A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $50,000 to help care for the child. Family members described Divodi-Lessa as “full of love and life,” while her daughter, Serafina, called her “the best Mommy ever” and remembered her brother as a “sweet boy” who “had some health issues,” according to the fundraiser.