16 July 2026
Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said two U.S. Forest Service employees were conducting routine field operations in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest when they were taken.
AP
16 July 2026, 8:00 a.m.
Schultz said the Forest Service received word that the two employees had been kidnapped at 8:00 a.m.
Los Angeles Times
16 July 2026, before 11:00 a.m.
CBS News, citing Schultz, reported the employees were kidnapped sometime before 11:00 a.m. while conducting field work in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
CBS News
16 July 2026, shortly before 11:00 a.m.
Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said his office was notified by U.S. Forest Service officials shortly before 11:00 a.m.
Los Angeles Times
16 July 2026, around noon
AP reported that Siskiyou County deputies reached the remote area around noon and deployed drones to help locate the trailer.
AP
16 July 2026, around 1:00 p.m.
LaRue said deputies located the trailer around 1:00 p.m.
Los Angeles Times
16 July 2026, shortly after 4:00 p.m.
LaRue said authorities began direct negotiations shortly after 4:00 p.m. with Joseph Charles Henrichsen and Phoenix Henrichsen.
CBS News
16 July 2026
The U.S. Attorney's Office said court documents allege the two Forest Service employees were conducting field work near Gumboot Lake Campground when they were abducted at gunpoint, bound, taken to a trailer, and held for 15 hours; the charges are unproven allegations.
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California · added 2 Aug 2026
16 July 2026
CNN reported that court filings described the two employees as biologists conducting frog research near Gumboot Lake Campground.
CNN · added 2 Aug 2026
16 July 2026
The Guardian, citing the federal criminal complaint, reported that Joseph Charles Henrichsen allegedly separated the hostages and drove one to a nearby lake, where he used her phone to contact a U.S. Forest Service ranger and left a voicemail for another person.
The Guardian · added 2 Aug 2026
16 July 2026, evening
The Guardian, citing the federal criminal complaint, reported that Joseph Charles Henrichsen allegedly told law enforcement officers he had a grenade and would detonate it if approaching authorities did not retreat.
The Guardian · added 2 Aug 2026
17 July 2026, 1:50 a.m.
The Los Angeles Times, citing authorities, reported that the two employees were released at 1:50 a.m.
Los Angeles Times
17 July 2026, about 2:30 a.m.
Authorities said Joseph Charles Henrichsen and Phoenix Henrichsen exited the trailer about 2:30 a.m. and were taken into custody.
Los Angeles Times
18 July 2026
AP reported that U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said he planned to charge both men with kidnapping federal employees, but no charges were listed in online court records Saturday afternoon; the Los Angeles Times separately reported Grant said both men had been charged.
AP; Los Angeles Times
20 July 2026
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, were charged with kidnapping federal employees in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest; the office said the charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California · added 2 Aug 2026
22 July 2026
Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue told CNN that he still did not know the motive and said Joseph Charles Henrichsen indicated he wanted to talk to the FBI but did not make clear what he wanted.
CNN · added 2 Aug 2026
30 July 2026
A federal grand jury indictment charged Joseph Charles Henrichsen and Phoenix Henrichsen with two counts of kidnapping a federal employee; the charges are unproven allegations.
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California indictment · added 26 Aug 2026
30 July 2026
The indictment charged Joseph Charles Henrichsen with two counts of assaulting a federal employee with a deadly or dangerous weapon, two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of assaulting a federal officer; the charges are unproven allegations.
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California indictment · added 26 Aug 2026