Henrichsens Charged in 15-Hour Kidnapping of 2 Forest Service Workers
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 21
Henrichsens Charged in 15-Hour Kidnapping of 2 Forest Service Workers
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 21
Summary
Federal prosecutors charged Joseph Henrichsen, 49, and Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, with abducting two U.S. Forest Service employees at gunpoint in Northern California and holding them for 15 hours.
Prosecutors said the workers were bound and taken to a trailer near Gumboot Lake Campground on July 16, where Joseph Henrichsen allegedly used a victim’s phone to report the hostages and threaten responders.
FBI hostage negotiators secured the first release shortly after 1:30 a.m. on July 17, the second about 15 minutes later, and both suspects surrendered around 2:30 a.m. without shots fired.
Authorities said Joseph Henrichsen was heavily armed with an AR-15-style rifle and knives and claimed to have grenades, though investigators have not confirmed any explosives were recovered.
The motive remains unclear; if convicted, the pair face up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine each.