Father and son charged with kidnapping US Forest Service biologists in California

A father and son are accused of turning a routine wildlife analysis journey right into a terrifying 15-hour hostage ordeal after allegedly abducting two US Forest Service biologists at gunpoint in a distant Northern California forest, federal authorities mentioned.

Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, have been charged Monday with kidnapping federal staff after authorities say they held the ladies captive inside a tenting trailer close to Gumboot Lake Campground within the Shasta-Trinity Nationwide Forest.

The biologists have been conducting a Forest Service research of Northern California frog habitats on Thursday when Joseph Henrichsen allegedly confronted them with an AR-15-style rifle, ordered them to lift their fingers and zip-tied their wrists behind their backs, in accordance with an FBI affidavit.

Investigators mentioned the ladies have been then compelled into a close-by white tenting trailer, the place Phoenix allegedly helped clear area for them whereas they remained restrained.

One of many biologists later instructed investigators Phoenix stayed behind to observe over her every time his father left the trailer.

Through the ordeal, Joseph Henrichsen allegedly drove one of many ladies a number of miles towards Lake Siskiyou within the Forest Service’s Nissan Frontier whereas armed.

Investigators say he used her cellphone to depart a voicemail for an acquaintance and name a Forest Service ranger.

“I’ve taken two fed biologists hostage from the Forest Service,” Henrichsen allegedly mentioned.

In line with the affidavit, he additionally mentioned the lady was zip-tied together with her fingers behind her again and warned he would use reside ammunition towards anybody who tried to intervene.

Authorities have been alerted Thursday morning, and the FBI started negotiating with Henrichsen later that afternoon after he contacted officers over the Forest Service car’s radio whereas figuring out himself as “Charles Perry,” an alias listed within the federal grievance.

“I’ve two biologists in my custody proper now,” Henrichsen mentioned in archived radio visitors. “… I’m requesting an FBI investigator to talk to in order that I can launch these hostages.”

Negotiations continued for roughly 9 hours as federal, state and native regulation enforcement surrounded the distant campground.

Investigators mentioned the standoff escalated when Joseph Henrichsen allegedly claimed he had a grenade and threatened to make use of it until officers moved away from a close-by truck.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Friday, one of many biologists was launched and walked to ready officers.

The second lady emerged about six minutes later.

Each ladies later instructed investigators they’d been kidnapped at gunpoint by Joseph Henrichsen and held towards their will.

Negotiators remained involved with the suspects after the hostages reached security.

Phoenix Henrichsen surrendered at about 2:30 a.m., adopted by his father roughly 5 minutes later.

Each males stay in federal custody after showing earlier than a federal Justice of the Peace Monday.

Their preliminary examination is scheduled for Aug. 3 in Sacramento.

If convicted, they every face a most statutory sentence of life in jail and a $250,000 wonderful.

The Forest Service mentioned it’s targeted on supporting the 2 staff and defending their privateness.

“This incident has hit Forest Service staff arduous, all over the place,” Jacque Buchanan, the appearing regional forester of the Pacific Southwest Area, mentioned in a press release to SFGATE. “We’re shocked, we’re apprehensive about our coworkers, and we’re reminded how tightly linked this workforce actually is. The forests and communities we serve are additionally the locations we name house — so once they’re violated like this, all of us really feel it.”

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