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Kidnapped US Forest Service employees released after more than 12 hours, say authorities
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Two US Forest Service employees were held hostage for over 12 hours near Gumboot Lake in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, northern California, before being released early Friday morning.
- Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, armed with an AR-15 and knives, restrained the employees with zip ties and held them at gunpoint inside a trailer, demanding to speak with the FBI.
- Law enforcement, including local agencies and the FBI, responded to the incident and began negotiations around 4pm Thursday, resulting in the release of the hostages after 2am Friday.
- Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, were taken into custody and will be charged with kidnapping federal employees; authorities have not disclosed their motives.
- The US Forest Service expressed relief that the employees are safe, and officials noted no prior interaction with Henrichsen, who, along with his son, previously lived in Washington.
