Ex-Fire Captain Sentenced to Life for Killing Fiancée and Her 7-Year-Old Son Over Movie Dispute
A former California fire captain will spend the rest of his life in prison after he fatally shot his fiancée and her young son following an argument about a movie. In August 2025, 47-year-old Darin McFarlin became enraged while watching a 2008 faith-based film about a firefighter. His fiancée, 29-year-old Marissa Herzog, confronted him and said she planned to report his violent behavior. McFarlin retrieved a handgun and struck Herzog before shooting her in the head. Her 7-year-old son was also killed when McFarlin turned the weapon on him. A 9-year-old daughter survived after pleading for mercy and escaping through a dog door. He was arrested hours later and, in April, received two consecutive life terms without parole plus additional prison sentences.
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