A father and son are facing federal charges after allegedly holding two U.S. Forest Service biologists captive at gunpoint for approximately 15 hours in a remote Northern California forest. Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, have been charged with kidnapping federal employees.
The incident began Thursday when the two women were conducting a Forest Service study of Northern California frog habitats in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. According to an FBI affidavit, Joseph Henrichsen confronted the biologists with an AR-15-style rifle, ordered them to raise their hands, and zip-tied their wrists.
The women were then reportedly forced into a nearby white camping trailer. An affidavit states that Phoenix Henrichsen allegedly helped clear space for the restrained women inside the trailer. One biologist told investigators that Phoenix stayed to watch her when his father left the trailer.
During the ordeal, Joseph Henrichsen allegedly drove one of the biologists several miles toward Lake Siskiyou in the Forest Service’s Nissan Frontier while still armed. He is accused of using her cellphone to leave a voicemail for an acquaintance and to call a Forest Service ranger. In the recorded message, Henrichsen allegedly stated, "I’ve taken two fed biologists hostage from the Forest Service," and warned that he would use live ammunition against anyone who attempted to intervene.
Authorities were alerted Thursday morning, and FBI negotiators began communicating with Henrichsen later that afternoon. He contacted officers over the Forest Service vehicle's radio, identifying himself as "Charles Perry," an alias listed in the federal complaint. "I have two biologists in my custody right now," Henrichsen said, according to archived radio traffic. "... I’m requesting an FBI investigator to speak to so that I can release these hostages."
Negotiations continued for about nine hours as federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies surrounded the remote Gumboot Lake Campground. The situation escalated when Joseph Henrichsen claimed he had a grenade and threatened to use it if officers did not move away from a nearby truck.
Shortly after 1 a.m. Friday, one biologist was released and walked to officers. The second woman emerged approximately six minutes later. Both women confirmed to investigators that they had been kidnapped at gunpoint and held against their will. The Forest Service stated it is focused on supporting the employees and protecting their privacy. Jacque Buchanan, acting regional forester for the Pacific Southwest Region, issued a statement expressing shock and concern for their coworkers, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the Forest Service workforce.
Phoenix Henrichsen surrendered to authorities around 2:30 a.m. Friday, followed by his father about five minutes later. Both men remain in federal custody and appeared before a federal magistrate on Monday. Their preliminary examination is scheduled for August 3 in Sacramento. If convicted, they each face a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.