C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Weekend Edition – VOLUME 175 • ISSUE 23 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2026
McFarlin pleads guilty to double murder Chris Woodard Staff writer
DARIN BLAKE McFARLIN
An El Dorado County man accused of killing a Cameron Park mother and her young son and attempting to kill a second child has pleaded guilty to amended charges. Former Cal Fire captain Darin McFarlin, entered his guilty pleas to multiple felony charges on March 13 in El Dorado County Superior Court. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13 at 1 p.m. in Department 2. The amended criminal complaint filed by
the El Dorado County District Attorney’s office includes two charges of murder with special circumstances, including premeditation and notation that the acts were carried out to prevent testimony. The complaint also includes one count each of attempted murder, domestic violence and child abuse. McFarlin was charged with two counts of murder for the Aug. 21, 2025, shooting deaths of Marissa Herzog and her son Josiah. A third victim, identified by the court as J. Doe, another child of Herzog, survived the attack at the Oakwood Road home where McFarlin and victims lived.
The complaint filed reports McFarlin attacked Herzog in their bedroom. When she fled to call for help, McFarlin obtained a gun and fatally shot her, then shot her son and attempted to kill the second child. The crimes carry the potential for severe penalties, including life in prison without the possibility of parole due to the special circumstance allegations tied to the murder counts. McFarlin’s guilty pleas resolve the case ahead of trial. Further details regarding sentencing, including any agreed-upon terms, are expected to be addressed at the April 13 hearing.
Grounded for now; built for more EDSO’s aerial partner a success in the sky
Chris Woodard Staff writer
F
An El Dorado County jury returned a guilty verdict on March 4 against Morris Anthony Greenberg for second-degree murder. The jury also found true that he personally used and discharged a firearm, causing great bodily injury or death. This case stems from a July 20, 2008, incident in which Greenberg shot and killed Anthony Dumont. At the time, Greenberg and his wife, Barrie, were separated and going through a divorce. Dumont
or the El Dorado County Sheriff ’s Office Aviation Unit, keeping a helicopter mission-ready means far more than fueling it up and waiting for the next call. As Echo 1 finishes maintenance in Woodland, the downtime offers a window into the unique work required to keep the helicopter safe, effective and ready for the county’s wide-ranging missions, from search and rescue to patrol support and wildfire response. “The fun part is, we do a little bit of everything but I would say the primary mission of the aviation unit is first and foremost search and rescue,” Aviation Unit Supervisor Sgt. Jesse Dacanay said. The helicopter supports patrol operations, including violent calls, foot pursuits and remote-area incidents, and assists on fires by providing airspace control and intelligence to firefighters on the ground. Earlier this year, the Aviation Unit passed all of its Cal Fire certifications
■ See GREENBERG, page A8
■ See ECHO 1, page A9
Mountain Democrat file photo
For the second time, a jury has found Morris Anthony Greenberg guilty of murder in the 2008 shooting death of Anthony Dumont.
Killer gets second guilty verdict El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
News release
Photos courtesy of EDSO
Echo 1, above, is used by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office for a variety of law enforcement activities. Echo 1, below, is undergoing a complete maintenance overhaul to get ready for the warm weather and all the incidents that come with the sunshine.
LOSS OF A LEGEND
Committee exploring new public safety building Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
Mountain Democrat file photo
The entire El Dorado County community is in mourning after the loss of Davey “Doc” Wiser this week. Davey, who often joked he was born in the wrong century, was a fixture in the area — known for his jubilant personality, love of all things Old West and keeping Gold Rush history alive. The Mountain Democrat is gathering stories for a piece honoring Davey and celebrating his well-lived life. He will be missed by so many. Please send anecdotes and thoughts about Davey to Shelly Thorene, sthorene@mtdemocrat.net, by noon Monday, March 23.
The Placerville City Council on March 10 discussed options for advancing plans for a new public safety building, ultimately leaving the matter without formal action while Mayor Nicole Gotberg announced she would appoint an ad hoc committee to evaluate potential next steps. The discussion centered on how the city should study options for replacing or upgrading facilities used by the Placerville Police Department, which officials say faces operational limitations. Placerville Police Chief Joseph Wren told councilmembers the issue emerged during a recent strategic planning session, where leaders expressed interest in forming a group to continue evaluating long-term needs. “The topic of the public safety building came up and it was a desire of the council to form some sort of committee to help continue to drive that conversation forward and look for options to best serve the department and the community,” Wren said. Wren said the current police facility has space and infrastructure limitations that affect operations, including evidence storage, processing and ■ See BUILDING, page A7