REDDING, CA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Two former Whatcom County residents are facing federal kidnapping charges after taking two Forest Service employees hostage in Northern California.
Court documents filed with the Eastern District of California state the father and son took the workers while they were conducting research in Shasta-Trinity National Forest on Thursday, July 16.
After being zip-tied and forced into a trailer, the employees were released by the suspects early Friday, July 17.
Investigators add that 49-year-old Joseph Henrichsen and his son, 23-year-old Phoenix Henrichsen, surrendered while in possession of numerous weapons.
In 2022, KGMI reported on Joseph’s arrest on hate crime and harassment charges after leaving threatening messages at a Sudden Valley home. Court documents state that Joseph was found incompetent to stand trial and the charges were dismissed.
