A father and son face federal kidnapping charges after allegedly holding two U.S. Forest Service employees at gunpoint for nearly 15 hours in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Joseph Henrichsen, 49, and his son Phoenix, 23, are accused of trapping the workers inside a trailer in a remote area of the California wilderness.
The incident began Thursday when the two Forest Service workers were ambushed while conducting field work. Authorities were alerted to the situation just before 11 a.m. when Joseph Henrichsen allegedly called the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department from one of the victim’s phones. He claimed to have taken two federal employees hostage and was holding them at gunpoint, demanding to speak with the FBI. Prosecutors stated that he claimed one victim was zip-tied and that he had live ammunition ready.
This call triggered a large-scale standoff involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s Sacramento field office, a crisis negotiation team, SWAT operators, and a hostage rescue team from Quantico, Virginia. Drones were deployed to locate the trailer, which was found hidden in a rugged campground surrounded by dense woods. The terrain, accessible by a narrow, single-lane road, presented challenges for emergency resources.
Negotiations began Thursday afternoon, and the two federal employees were released early Friday morning. Joseph Henrichsen and his son surrendered to authorities around 2:30 a.m. Friday. Investigators reported that Joseph Henrichsen was carrying an AR-15-style rifle and knives when he surrendered, and he also claimed to have grenades.
Both victims were evaluated after their rescue and returned home with no reported injuries. FBI Sacramento acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh acknowledged the successful resolution, stating, "Crisis situations like this don't often result in everyone leaving the scene safely." The Forest Service employees are resting and will need time to process the experience.
The motive behind the alleged kidnappings remains under investigation. If convicted, Henrichsen and his son face a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In a statement, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz expressed gratitude for the employees' safe return. "Our focus now is simple: The well-being of our employees and their families. Their well-being continues to be our highest priority."
Court records indicate Joseph Henrichsen, also known as Christopher Perry, has a history of alleged erratic behavior. In 2022, he was accused of a hate crime in Washington state for allegedly harassing landlords of Russian and Ukrainian descent. His case was eventually dismissed when officials were unable to place him in a state psychiatric facility for treatment. A family member reportedly attributed his unraveling behavior to the death of his ex-wife in August 2021.