Two Clearlake Residents Charged with Murder After Routine Traffic Stop Uncovers Two Victims

This is a press release from the California Highway Patrol. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty:

On April 5 at approximately 8:50 a.m., California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers conducted a traffic stop on a gray Chevy Suburban for a registration violation on State Route 53 at Dam Road in Clearlake.

The vehicle continued until it stopped on 18th Avenue near Oak Street. During the stop, a male passenger, Alex Kenneth Schussolin, 37, of Clearlake, tried to flee, but officers quickly detained him. The driver, Jasslynn Pearl Critchett, 32, of Clearlake, stayed at the scene.

Suspect vehicle — 2000 Chevrolet Suburban

While contacting the driver, an officer noticed blood inside the vehicle and traced it to the rear passenger area, where officers found an unresponsive adult male. The person was later pronounced dead. Based on these circumstances, officers launched a homicide investigation.As officers secured the scene, they found a firearm near where Schussolin had fled. Detectives from the CHP Northern Division Investigative Services Unit (ISU) and the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team responded and took over the investigation.

During the investigation, detectives identified a possible additional victim connected to the incident. They responded to State Route 175, about 1.5 miles north of the Lake-Mendocino County line, where they found a woman who was deceased down an embankment.

Investigators believe the incident started in Sonoma County and moved into Lake County before CHP officers made the traffic stop. Authorities have taken both suspects into custody and booked them into the Lake County Jail on two charges of murder, carjacking, being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

Press conference at the Clear Lake CHP office

Authorities have informed the victims’ families. Currently, there is no ongoing danger to the public, and investigators consider this to be an isolated incident.

“This case demonstrates how quickly our officers need to assess and respond to unexpected situations,” said CHP Northern Division Chief John Pinoli. “What started as a routine traffic stop rapidly turned into a complex investigation. Our personnel, along with our allied partners, responded swiftly to secure multiple scenes and protect the public.”

CHP detectives continue to collaborate closely with local law enforcement agencies on this ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact CHP at 1-800-TELL-CHP.

The CHP Northern Division thanks its allied partners for their assistance, including the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Clearlake Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa Police Department, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, and the CHP Golden Gate Division ISU.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.