Overview
- Two U.S. Forest Service employees who were zip-tied and held at gunpoint in a remote trailer near Gumboot Lake were released safely after negotiations and are home with their families.
- A multi-agency response that included local SWAT, drone teams, bomb squads and the FBI Hostage Rescue Team reached the site and began direct negotiations that led to the release.
- The abduction, which began Thursday, ended early Friday when the first employee was freed about 1:50 a.m. and both suspects surrendered around 2:30 a.m.
- Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his adult son Phoenix were arrested and charged with kidnapping federal employees; authorities say Joseph had an AR-15-style rifle, knives and claimed to have grenades but have not confirmed explosives.
- Federal prosecutors and the FBI are continuing an active investigation into motive and evidence, have searched material from the scene, and are asking the public to provide tips to aid the inquiry.