Two federal employees held at gunpoint in a remote California forest trailer were released unharmed early Friday morning, ending a standoff that prompted a massive law enforcement response across the region.
The workers were taken hostage Thursday morning near Gumboot Lake in Shasta-Trinity national forest while conducting routine fieldwork. A US Forest Service law enforcement officer called 911 before 11am, reporting that a man had restrained the two employees with zip ties and was holding them at gunpoint inside a trailer.
The suspect, identified as Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, was armed with an AR-15 rifle and knives. He demanded to speak with the FBI, according to Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue. Federal agents and local law enforcement agencies converged on the remote location, beginning negotiations around 4pm Thursday afternoon.
After more than eight hours of talks, Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, were persuaded to exit the trailer. The hostages walked free after 2am Friday morning, uninjured. Both men now face federal charges of kidnapping a federal employee, according to Eric Grant, US Attorney for the region.
Law enforcement has not disclosed details about the negotiations or what motivated Henrichsen to take the workers. The sheriff's office said it had no prior interactions with Henrichsen in the area.
Records indicate the father and son previously lived in Washington state. In 2022, the Bellingham Herald reported that Joseph Charles Henrichsen faced a hate crime accusation for allegedly harassing his landlords. A judge ruled him incompetent to stand trial, and the case was dismissed after delays in his admission to a state hospital.
Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz issued a statement expressing relief at the workers' safe return. "I'm grateful beyond words that both of our Forest Service employees taken hostage on the Shasta-Trinity national forest are home safe," he said.
Author James Rodriguez: "The speed of the negotiated resolution likely prevented tragedy, but the questions about what drove these men to commit such a crime remain unanswered."
Comments