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US Forest Service employees kidnapped in intense California standoff
SFGATE • • nation
Key Points:
- Two U.S. Forest Service employees were held hostage at gunpoint inside a trailer in the remote Gumboot Lake area of Shasta-Trinity National Forest, leading to a nearly 15-hour standoff involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
- Negotiations began Thursday afternoon and ended early Friday morning with the safe release of both hostages, who were unharmed and returned home after medical assessment.
- Suspects Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his adult son Phoenix Henrichsen were arrested; Joseph was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and knives and claimed to have grenades, and both face federal kidnapping charges.
- The FBI's Hostage Rescue Team was flown in from Virginia to assist local and state authorities, highlighting the complexity and potential danger of the situation in the remote forest area.
- Authorities have not disclosed the motive behind the kidnapping or why Joseph Henrichsen wanted to speak with the FBI, and the Forest Service is providing support to the hostages and their families.
