Daijiworld Media Network – Sacramento
Sacramento, Jul 21: A father and son have been charged with kidnapping two US Forest Service biologists at gunpoint in a remote Northern California forest, triggering an hours-long standoff with law enforcement before the hostages were released safely.
Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his 23-year-old son, Phoenix Henrichsen, appeared before a federal court in Sacramento on Monday. They did not enter pleas to charges of kidnapping a federal employee and aiding and abetting.
According to a federal affidavit, the incident occurred on Thursday morning near the Gumboot Lake Campground in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, about 290 miles north of San Francisco.
The two biologists, whose identities have not been disclosed, were conducting research on frog habitats when Joseph Henrichsen allegedly approached them carrying an AR-15-style rifle.
Investigators said he restrained the victims by binding their hands with zip ties before forcing them to a nearby trailer, where Phoenix Henrichsen allegedly joined him.
Court documents state that one of the victims, a woman, was later taken in the Forest Service vehicle by Joseph Henrichsen, who allegedly drove several miles while using her mobile phone to make calls and leave a voicemail for a federal forest ranger.
In the recorded message cited in the affidavit, Henrichsen allegedly claimed to have taken two federal biologists hostage and warned that he was armed with live ammunition. He reportedly demanded to speak with a federal investigator, preferably from the FBI.
After returning to the trailer, the victims were allegedly held at gunpoint for several hours.
During negotiations with law enforcement, Joseph Henrichsen also allegedly claimed he possessed a grenade and threatened to use it unless officers withdrew from the area.
Following prolonged negotiations, authorities persuaded the suspects to release the hostages shortly after 1 a.m. on Friday. Both men then surrendered without further incident.
Officials have not disclosed a motive for the kidnapping.
Lauren Horwood, spokesperson for the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California, said she could not comment beyond the details contained in the court filings.
Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said the suspects were previously unknown to local law enforcement.
Property records indicate Joseph Henrichsen had lived in Orange County, California, before the incident.
Court records also show that he was arrested in Washington state in 2022. According to media reports, he had been accused of throwing fireworks at a neighbour's home, leaving homemade handcuffs and a note referencing Russian President Vladimir Putin, and carrying a firearm. That case, which included a hate crime allegation, was later dismissed after authorities were unable to provide psychiatric treatment within the required timeframe.
The latest federal charges were filed on Friday. If convicted of kidnapping a federal employee, both accused could face life imprisonment.
It remains unclear whether either of the accused has legal representation. A preliminary court hearing has been scheduled for August 3.