The suspects, identified as 49-year-old Joseph Charles Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, allegedly zip-tied the two employees and held them captive.
A father and son in California have been arrested after allegedly kidnapping two US Forest Service employees and holding them hostage inside a trailer near Mount Shasta.
The suspects, identified as 49-year-old Joseph Charles Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, allegedly zip-tied the two employees and held them captive while demanding to speak with the FBI. The FBI deployed a hostage negotiator to secure the release of the hostages.
The incident began on Thursday when a Forest Service employee alerted authorities to the kidnapping. By 1:50 am Friday, the FBI secured the release of the first hostage. The second hostage was freed approximately 15 minutes later, after which the two suspects surrendered to law enforcement.
Authorities have not publicly identified a motive for the kidnapping. US Attorney Eric Grant said in a press conference that "The United States Attorney's Office intends to charge both men by criminal complaint with kidnapping a federal employee under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(a)(5).”
In a statement, Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said he is “grateful beyond words that both of our Forest Service employees taken hostage on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest are home safe.”
"This was a frightening experience for everyone involved. Their well-being continues to be our highest priority. We’re staying close to them and their loved ones, making sure they have the support and the space that they need after what they’ve been through,” he added, according to a report by Fox News.
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