Father, Son Charged in 15-Hour Kidnapping of 2 Forest Service Workers
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 18
Father, Son Charged in 15-Hour Kidnapping of 2 Forest Service Workers
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 18
Summary
Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, were charged after two U.S. Forest Service employees were abducted at gunpoint in northern California and later freed unharmed.
A suspect used one victim’s phone to say he had taken “two fed employees hostage” and had “live rounds ready,” triggering a large federal, state and local response to a remote Shasta-Trinity National Forest campsite.
Drones helped authorities locate the trailer and open contact with the father, who said he wanted to speak with the FBI and warned he had firearms, ammunition and claimed to have grenades.
Negotiations began around 4:20 p.m. and stretched nearly 10 more hours before the workers were released 15 minutes apart; less than an hour later, both suspects walked out and surrendered.
The motive remains under investigation; if convicted, the pair face up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.