Bellingham Man and Son Face Federal Kidnapping Charges

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  Joseph Henrichsen, 49, and his son Phoenix, 23, face federal kidnapping charges“Joseph Henrichsen, 49, and Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, face federal kidnapping charges and a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California.”
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  Joseph Henrichsen and his son Phoenix are alleged to have held two U. S. Forest Service biologists hostage“Joseph Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix, are accused of kidnapping two U.S. Forest Service biologists on July 16 and holding them hostage in this trailer until the early hours of July 17 near Gumboot Lake in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California.”
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  The alleged kidnapping took place for 15 hours“Federal prosecutors are accusing a former Bellingham resident and his son of kidnapping two U.S. Forest Service employees who were studying frogs in California, and holding them against their will for 15 hours on Thursday, July 16.”
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  The kidnapping occurred near Gumboot Lake in Shasta-Trinity National Forest“Joseph Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix, are accused of kidnapping two U.S. Forest Service biologists on July 16 and holding them hostage in this trailer until the early hours of July 17 near Gumboot Lake in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California.”
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  The kidnapping took place on July 16, 2026“Joseph Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix, are accused of kidnapping two U.S. Forest Service biologists on July 16 and holding them hostage in this trailer until the early hours of July 17 near Gumboot Lake in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California.”
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  Joseph Henrichsen approached the biologists with an AR-15-style rifle“On Thursday morning, Joseph Henrichsen is suspected of approaching the biologists at the campground carrying an AR-15-style assault rifle, according to federal charging documents.”
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  Joseph Henrichsen ordered the biologists to turn around“Henrichsen allegedly told the biologists to turn around and put their hands up in the air, then zip-tied their wrists behind their backs.”
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  Joseph Henrichsen zip-tied the biologists' wrists behind their backs“Henrichsen allegedly told the biologists to turn around and put their hands up in the air, then zip-tied their wrists behind their backs.”
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  The biologists were studying frog habitats when they were taken hostage“The forest service employees are biologists who were studying frog habitats in Northern California, according to court documents. The two were at Gumboot Lake Campground, located in Shasta-Trinity National Forest.”
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  The biologists were taken to a white camping trailer“Henrichsen walked the two to a white camping trailer parked near the campground, where he told his son to clear a space for ”
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  Joseph Henrichsen and his son Phoenix were arrested and charged on Monday“The men were arrested and charged on Monday.”
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  The case is being handled by the U. S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California“Joseph Henrichsen, 49, and Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, face federal kidnapping charges and a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California.”