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Crime House 24/7
First Watch: Fire Captain Charged in Double Murder & A Death Row Controversy
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Crime House has the perfect new show for spooky season Twisted Tales. Hosted by Heidi Wong, each episode of Twisted Tales is perfect for late night scares and daytime frights, revealing the disturbing real life events that inspired the world's most terrifying blockbusters and the ones too twisted to make it to screen. Twisted Tales is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts New episodes out every Monday.
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This is Crime House.
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We now know the identities of the mother and son killed in a shooting in Cameron park after a Cal Fire captain was arrested. We also know McFarlane is charged with attempted murder in and child abuse for the second child that was in that home.
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I love you. I love you more. I love you most Marissa devotee Les daughter said she was an amazing mom and every night her, her brother and her mom would say this to each other before going to bed. But her mom and her brother were taken from this world too soon and investigators say the culprit was a man who had sworn to protect and serve. Hi, I'm Katie Ring, true crime analyst, self defense instructor and fierce advocate for victims and this is Crime House Daily. Your weekday true crime companion. A Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. We follow the cases making headlines now where justice is still unfolding. This is a first watch episode bringing you today's biggest crime stories. Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel Rimehouse Daily so you never miss an episode. This episode discusses active criminal cases and breaking news. The information we share is based on what's publicly available at the time of recording and may change as new evidence comes to light. We aim to inform, not to decide guilt or innocence. So everyone mentioned is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Today we're covering two major cases in the news. The first case is the shocking murder of California mother Marissa devotee lessa and her 8 year old son Josiah who allegedly were shot at home by her boyfriend who is a Cal fire captain now facing charges of first degree murder. The second case is Robert Roberson, a Texas father convicted of killing his two year old daughter whose execution is scheduled for October 16th. Despite growing claims of his innocence, the next few weeks are critical in his decades long fight for his life.
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All right, before we get into today's main cases, there's a case that came up on my feed that I've got to tell you guys about. In late September, a man named Lorenz Krause admitted in an on camera interview with a CBS News affiliate that he murdered his parents, Franz and Teresa Krause. He was arrested as he left the studio. The news station is in Albany, New York where an ongoing police investigation into Franz and Teresa's disappearance was happening. Originally it was a financial fraud investigation because police discovered that Franz and Teresa were still receiving Social Security payments even though they haven't been seen or heard from in years. When police searched Franz and Teresa's home, they uncovered their bodies. That's when Lorenz reached out to the station for an interview and said that he killed his parents eight years ago out of mercy because they were old. He said he buried them in the backyard of their home in upstate New York. This case is really interesting because people are debating the involvement of the media in the investigation. The Albany county assistant public defender said that if the interview was conducted like a police investigation, anything Lorenz said on air can't be used in trial. We have a first watch episode coming out on this case, so be on the lookout. Today's first case is a heartbreaking one where the tragic murder of a beloved mother and her young son devastated their tight knit community. This August, 29 year old Marissa devotee Lessa and her son Josiah were attacked at their home in Cameron Park, California. Marissa died on the scene and Josiah passed away at the hospital shortly after. And their suspected attacker was Marissa's own boyfriend, 47 year old Darren McFarlane, a fire captain. Let's get into it. Marissa devotee Lessa's family describes her as a kind, loving woman devoted to her faith and her two children, Josiah, who was in second grade, and his older sister Serafina. The case is still developing so details are light on Marissa's life, but here's what we know. She reportedly went to high school around Cameron Park, California, a quiet community nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains about 30 miles east of Sacramento. She was well liked in her community and settled down in Cameron park to raise her two kids. According to Serafina, Marissa was a great mom. The three of them loved to play cards together, watch movies and even just all hang out and spend time with each other. Serafina says that Marissa could always make her laugh and would always tuck her and Josiah, who went by JoJo in at night, they would always say, I love you, then I love you more, and end with I love you most. By August 2025, Marissa and her kids started living with her boyfriend, Darren McFarlane. Darren was a captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, better known as Cal Fire. Their mission is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California. And as a captain, Darren has a lot of responsibility as a leader and first responder. But in his personal life, he's allegedly not exactly someone to look up to. On Facebook, people who knew Marissa have claimed that she knew she was in a bad situation. One person said they'd gone to beauty school with Marissa in 2024 and that Marissa knew Darren was a dangerous person. And allegedly, on August 21, 2025, Darren showed just how dangerous he really was. Reports say that night, Darren, Marissa, Josiah, and Serafina were all at home. According to the criminal complaint against Darren, Marissa had witnessed him commit a crime. The exact crime has not been disclosed at this time, but Darren was worried Marissa could testify against him, and he was willing to do anything to stop her. And on the night of the 21st, as Marissa is leaving their bedroom, Darren attacks her. She manages to get away from him, then heads toward the dining room and uses her cell phone. But Darren follows her and he has a gun. He shoots Marissa, who dies from her wounds. Tragically, he doesn't stop there. Next, Darren allegedly turns his weapon on Marissa's son, Josiah. Darren then shoots the little boy so he couldn't be a witness to his own mother's murder. Finally, the criminal complaint says Darren goes after Sarafina and attempts to murder her as well. But thankfully, he doesn't manage to kill her. Reports say that when police arrive on the scene around 9pm Serafina is still alive and Darren is nowhere to be found. Josiah is rushed to the hospital, but. But there's nothing doctors can do, and he dies from his injuries. Meanwhile, Darren is allegedly trying to make a run for it, but he doesn't get too far. A few hours later, just after midnight on August 22, he's caught and detained in Mono County, California, near the Nevada border. He's then booked into the El Dorado County Jail and held without bail. As the investigation into Darren begins, the peaceful community of Cameron park struggles to process the news of Marissa and Josiah's murders. Not only were they beloved by their family and neighbors, but these murders were allegedly committed by a fire captain, someone who the community should be able to trust. When the story is posted to social media, a flood of emotions pour in as people pay tribute to the mother and son, expressing their shock, anger, and grief. People talk about how beloved the family is in the community. One of them taught Josiah and Seraphina at daycare when they were younger. And another remembered how Marissa babysat their kids and was a kind, loving person. These are just a couple of the many heartfelt messages about Marissa and her family. And there's a lot of people in her community who want to back those words up with action. One woman says, may we honor their memories by continuing to support one another and break the cycle of violence in our community. Get educated, change the culture, change the culture, change the behavior. Do not be willing to accept this in our community. Be the change. It's definitely an inspiring message and the community rallies around it. And they start by supporting Marissa's family. Two days after the murders, some of her family friends set up a GoFundMe to help with the funeral and legal costs with anything left over going towards the care of her daughter Seraphina. As of this recording, they have raised more than the $50,000 target goal. And there's another part they want Marissa and Josiah's alleged killer held accountable. Darren McFarlane is charged with two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance and one count of attempted murder. In this case, the special circumstance is because Darren used a firearm to commit his crimes. He's also charged with domestic violence and child abuse. If Darren is convicted of murder in the first degree with a special circumstance, he faces life in state prison without parole or possibly even the death penalty. The death penalty is a legal sentence in the state of California. But due to a standing 2006 court order and 2019 moratorium on executions ordered by Governor Gavin Newsom, the death penalty cannot be carried out in the state of California. As of this recording, on August 25, 2025, Darren pleaded not guilty to all charges. A pre preliminary hearing was set for September 29, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 16. Hopefully, as the case progresses, will get more clarity on the possible motive or the other crime Marissa witnessed that allegedly prompted Darren to kill her. As this quest for justice continues, we'll be keeping a close eye on it. And as always, we'll be sure to bring you all of the major updates. Here.
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Our second case today involves another tragic death, another a young child. And it's been a source of controversy for over 20 years. In 2003, Robert Roberson was convicted of murdering his two year old daughter Nikki. The prosecution argued that Roberson shook Nikki to stop her from crying and that's how she died. As a result, Roberson was sentenced to death. But there have been widespread concerns over his innocence from the beginning. His case has attracted national and even international attention over the years and was taken on by the Innocence Project. Despite the support he's gotten over the years, he was nearly executed in October 2024 until a bipartisan group of lawmakers intervened and he was granted a stay. However, his execution has been scheduled again, this time for October 16, 2025. This is a case where every moment matters and things could change at any moment. So let's get into it. Back in 2002, Robert Roberson was a 35 year old divorced father with three children, including Nikki, who was born in October of 1999. Nikki's mother had struggled with substance abuse, so Nikki's maternal grandparents took care of her until a paternity test revealed that Robert was the father and custody was transferred to him when Nikki was 2. Being entrusted with Nikki's care wasn't easy for Robert. He had autism spectrum disorder and was a special education student who dropped out of school after 9th grade. Nikki had a variety of health issues and with two other children, Robert was struggling. Just days after her birth, Nikki got several infections that were resistant to antibiotics, including chronic ear infections that kept coming back even after Nikki had tubes surgically implanted in her ears. She also had a history of something called breathing apnea. This means that suddenly and for seemingly no reason, she'd stop breathing, collapse, and turn blue. I can't imagine the constant state of terror that parents of a child with this condition live in. And on January 28, 2002, she'd been suffering from a persistent cough, vomiting and diarrhea for the past five days. That day, Robert and his mother decide to bring Nikki to their local ER in Palestine, Texas, where the doctor prescribed her a medication called Phenerian. Today, the FDA advises against giving young kids this drug because it can lead to fatal respiratory issues. But this guidance didn't exist back then and it doesn't end up helping her. After going home that night, Nikki's temperature rises to a frightening 103.1 degrees Fahrenheit. The next morning, Robert brings Her back to the hospital. But by this point, her fever has risen to 104.5. The doctors prescribe her more phenergan, this time with codeine, an opioid used to treat coughing. Like phenergan, the FDA now advises against giving children Nikki's age codeine, which poses, quote, serious risks, including slowed and difficult breathing and death, which appear to be a greater risk in children younger than 12 years. But again, this guidance didn't exist at that time. So Nikki is prescribed the drugs and sent home. In fact, she was prescribed such a high dose that her postmortem toxicology report will later show lethal levels of phenergan in her system. Robert doesn't know any of this, though, so he brings her to bed, where she sleeps on a mattress and box spring held up by cinder blocks. So not exactly the safest setup. That night, Robert wakes up to the sound of his daughter screaming. He'll later claim that he ran in and saw Nikki on the floor and that she had fallen out of bed. So Robert comforts her and stays up with Nikki until she falls asleep. Then, when he wakes up the next morning and checks on her, Nikki won't wake up. She's turning blue and isn't breathing. Not knowing what to do, he grabs her face to try and get her to wake up, but it's no use. He calls 911 and is telling police what happened while Nikki was rushed to the hospital. Doctors there are able to restart her heart, but the hospital in Palestine isn't equipped to care for a child in Nikki's condition. So Nikki is transported to Dallas Children's medical center in Dallas, Texas. The medical team is skeptical of Robert's story that Nikki had fallen out of bed, especially because he doesn't seem all that panicked about what's happening to her, is speaking flatly, and can't quite explain what happened to her. Robert's lawyers will later point to Robert's autism as an explanation for his behavior. But in the moment, the Nikki's doctors don't know that, and they find his behavior suspicious. Her case is referred to a child abuse pediatrician, and due to her brain swelling, retinal hemorrhages, which is bleeding in the back of the eye, and subdural bleeding, which is the collection of blood between the brain and the inner lining of the skull, the doctor diagnoses Nikki with shaken baby syndrome. There's nothing they can do to save her, and tragically, Nikki dies. After two days in the hospital and before the autopsy is even conducted, Robert Roberson is arrested for his daughter's murder.
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On February 1, 2002, Robert Roberson's daughter Nikki died from what authorities believe is shaken baby syndrome shortly after, Robert is arrested and charged with her murder. When the autopsy comes out, it concludes that Nikki had died of blunt force head injuries. At Robert's trial in February 2003, the prosecution argued that Robert had beaten Nikki to death, implying that shaking her had contributed to that. Robert's own lawyers don't even bring up her prior illness and just say Robert hadn't meant to kill Nikki. One of the prosecution's expert witnesses even admits that some of Nikki's injuries could have been caused by the measures doctors took to save her life. But Robert's lawyers don't even pursue this possibility. As a result, Robert is convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. But before he's executed, Robert has a chance to file an appeal, and he feels like he has a pretty good case, mostly because in the years after his conviction, many experts have concluded that a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome was incorrect in this case. At the time of Roberts conviction, the prevailing belief was that the trio of symptoms Nikki showed brain swelling Retinal hemorrhages and subdural bleeding could only be caused by violent shaking. Since then, research has showed those injuries could be caused in other ways, such as a short fall. Robert had told investigators that Nikki had fallen out of her bed, the one that was supported by cinder blocks. So it's entirely possible that her injuries had been caused by that tumble. Not only that, but A study from 2024 shows that a shortfall injury would be more likely to cause Nikki's injuries than violent shaking would. And as a result of this finding, at least 40 people in 20 states have been exonerated after being wrongfully convicted of charges related to shaken baby syndrome. However, four days before he's scheduled to die, Robert is granted a stay and given a chance for his case to be reviewed under the Texas junk science law, which the shaken baby syndrome diagnosis could qualify as. According to expert opinion, Nikki's external injuries were consistent with a shortfall and that her internal bleeding got worse after she was brought to the hospital, meaning that her surgeries could have worsened her brain bleed. At Robert's hearing, which finally begins in 2021, his team brought in other experts who testified that her lungs showed severe signs of pneumonia. They also bring up the lethal levels of phenergan in her system, but it doesn't work. In 2023, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ultimately decided that there wasn't sufficient evidence from the hearing to overturn Robert's conviction, and the U.S. supreme Court rejected the next appeal later that year. His next execution date is set for October 17, 2024. But with just days to go before he's put to death, the Texas Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence intervenes. They managed to delay the process by subpoenaing Robert to testify about his case on the 21st, which would be four days after his execution. However, the Texas Parole Board votes against commuting his sentence, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott doesn't weigh in on the case, although he could grant a pardon. So this sets up a huge showdown between two branches of the state government. And the Texas Supreme Court temporarily stays the execution, again citing a constitutional crisis. But the next month, in November 2024, the court ruled that the lawmakers improperly interfered with Robert's execution, and this time, it's set for October 16, 2025. According to the Texas attorney general, the evidence from Robert's original trial proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he murdered his daughter. A Press release from October 23, 2024, describes testimony from witnesses who claimed Robert had a history of abuse, that Nikki had a clear handprint on her face when she was brought to the hospital and that Robert's story about what happened to Nikki was inconsistent. Meanwhile, Robert's backers at the Innocence Project have pointed out that many experts believe Nikki's cause of death was from her prior illness and the dangerous medication she was prescribed. They also claim that the lead detective who testified against Robert at his trial now believes he's innocent. As of this recording, the execution is still scheduled, but Robert's attorneys and his advocates and supporters around the world aren't giving up until then. He's decided not to seek clemency from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and instead is asking for a new trial so he can prove his innocence in court. We're watching this one closely, and as always, we'll be sure to bring you all the major updates. What did you think of today's cases? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments. You stay curious and I'll stay on the case. See you next time.