Father and Son Face Charges in Armed Kidnapping of Biologists

WHO:

NBC News - Joseph Henrichsen and Phoenix Henrichsen are the suspects charged with kidnapping.

NY Post - The victims are two U.S. Forest Service biologists.

WHAT:

NBC News - Joseph Henrichsen is accused of saying in a voicemail, “I’ve taken two fed biologists hostage.”

NY Post - The father and son allegedly kidnapped the biologists at gunpoint.

WHERE:

NY Post - The incident occurred in a remote Northern California forest.

WHEN:

NY Post - The kidnapping incident took place on a Friday.

WHY:

NBC News - The motive for the kidnapping has not been detailed in the articles.

HOW:

NY Post - The criminal affidavit outlines minute-by-minute details of the hostage crisis.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 05:57 UTC)

Joseph Henrichsen and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, have been charged with kidnapping two U.S. Forest Service biologists in a remote Northern California forest. According to reports, Joseph allegedly left a voicemail stating, “I’ve taken two fed biologists hostage,” and the pair is accused of abducting the victims at gunpoint. The criminal affidavit provides a detailed timeline of the hostage crisis, but the motive behind the kidnapping remains unclear.