Desiree Carmen Fuentes, 43, of Santa Rosa, was one of two people killed in a case that began with a traffic stop on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. California Highway Patrol officers tried to stop a gray 2000 Chevrolet Suburban near State Route 53 and Dam Road in Clearlake; the vehicle kept going until 18th Avenue and Oak Street. A male passenger, later identified as Alex Kenneth Schussolin, 37, ran and was detained; the driver, identified as Jasslynn Pearl Critchett, 32, remained at the scene.

Officers found blood inside the SUV and discovered 58-year-old Terry Joe Harris unresponsive in the rear seat; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Fuentes’ body was later found down an embankment off State Route 175, about 1.5 miles north of the Lake-Mendocino County line. Authorities said both victims died from gunshot wounds and believe the killings began in Sonoma County before the suspects traveled into Lake County. A firearm was reportedly recovered near where Schussolin fled.

Schussolin and Critchett were arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder plus alleged carjacking and weapons-related offenses; both pleaded not guilty and remained in custody as the case moved through Lake County court. Fuentes’ family described her as warm, outgoing, and reconnecting with relatives and daughters over the holiday; they emphasized her laughter and gift for making others feel close to her. Anyone with information about events leading to April 5, 2026, is asked to come forward.