Archive · 18 Jul 2026
Two US Forest Service Employees Rescued After 15-Hour Hostage Ordeal
Two workers from the US Forest Service were held hostage for about 15 hours in a forest in California.
The men who took them hostage were armed and wanted to talk to the FBI.
Police and the FBI worked together to rescue the workers safely.
The workers were tied up and held at gunpoint in a trailer.
After many hours of talking, the workers were freed, and the men who took them hostage gave up.
No one was hurt, and the workers are now resting.
The police are still trying to figure out why this happened.
Two US Forest Service employees were held hostage for nearly 15 hours in California’s Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
The suspects, Joseph Charles Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, were armed with an AR-15 and claimed to have grenades.
Law enforcement, including the FBI, used drones and negotiation tactics to resolve the situation peacefully.
The hostages were released around 1:50 am, and the suspects surrendered shortly after.
The motive behind the hostage-taking is still under investigation.
- Who
- Two US Forest Service employees and two suspects, Joseph Charles Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen
- What
- A 15-hour hostage ordeal
- When
- Early Thursday to early Friday
- Where
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California
- Why
- The motive is still under investigation.
Law Enforcement
Suspects
Use of Force
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement used drones and negotiation tactics to resolve the situation peacefully.
Suspects
The suspects were armed and initially resisted surrender.
- Location
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California
- Duration
- 15 hours
- Suspects
- Joseph Charles Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen
- Agencies Involved
- FBI, Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Land Management, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Weapons
- AR-15, grenades (claimed)