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Father, Son Charged with Kidnapping California Forest Workers

7/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. prosecutors charged Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his son Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, with kidnapping two Forest Service employees in Siskiyou County, California.
They abducted the employees at gunpoint near Gumboot Lake Campground, zip-tied them, and held them in a trailer for over 12 hours.
FBI negotiators secured the victims’ release after a 15-hour standoff, with the suspects now facing life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

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Story summary

U.S. prosecutors charged Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his son Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, with kidnapping two Forest Service employees in Siskiyou County, California.
They abducted the employees at gunpoint near Gumboot Lake Campground, zip-tied them, and held them in a trailer for over 12 hours.
FBI negotiators secured the victims’ release after a 15-hour standoff, with the suspects now facing life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine if convicted.