What if I told you that there is a place in Idaho where you can commit the perfect crime? That there is a small, obscure spot tucked away in one of our pristine national forests where you could commit a felony and get caught but not be prosecuted?
It exists. And it’s called the Zone of Death.
In 2004, Michigan law professor Brian Kalt stumbled upon a loophole that exists regarding jurisdiction in Yellowstone National Park – the 3,468-square mile volcanic and wildlife area that covers portions of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana and attracts more than 3 million visitors per year. Kalt’s article describes a literal no-man’s land in the Idaho portion of Yellowstone where (theoretically) anyone can commit a crime and receive no judicial punishment whatsoever. His findings, published in the article “The Perfect Crime,” were absolutely groundbreaking for obvious reasons…
Yellowstone National Park is home to some of the most awe-inspiring natural scenery on earth.
CCO3
Geysers, prismatic pools, waterfalls…
Partha Chowdhury/Flickr
However, few people realize that Yellowstone spills over into Idaho as well.
katie wheeler/Flickr In fact, the same geologic marvels that make Yellowstone so popular exist in Idaho as well, and have created multiple magnificent volcanic calderas along Eastern Idaho’s border, incredible natural springs, and even our own stunning waterfalls. Pretty incredible, right?
This narrow, 50-mile strip of land along the border sits nestled in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and goes by another name: The Zone of Death.
TravelingOtter/Flickr The phrase was coined by Kalt in his article and refers to the possibility of committing murder, here, only to walk away scot-free.
Why? Because the overlap creates a legislative gray area that is just as fascinating as the natural wonders it contains.
Wikimedia Commons Here’s how it works: Like all national parks, Yellowstone is considered federal land. While small parts of it fall in Idaho (and Montana as well), Congress placed the entire park in Wyoming’s district - the only one in the country to cross state lines.
Uniquely, the 6th Amendment grants a criminal defendant the right to a trial by jury, consisting of members living in the state AND district where the crime was committed. But this inconspicuous piece of land is in one state (Idaho) and the district of another (Wyoming), essentially enabling criminal activity and legal immunity on the outskirts of the country’s original national park.
While Congress has neglected to close the loophole, fortunately, there are other criteria that must be met in order to keep from becoming a one-(wo)man chain gang after a felony spree.
TravelingOtter/Flickr
One of those requirements? The crime cannot be premeditated or orchestrated outside the park.
Todd Petrie/Flickr Meaning, if after reading this you’re inspired to take an impromptu camping trip with your nemesis, be aware that the immunity doesn’t apply. Sorry! Plus, there’s the added threat of civil lawsuits by individual parties and facing potential jail time for an offense that doesn’t warrant a jury.
So while off yonder in the distance you can see the surprisingly beautiful Zone of Death quietly resting in all of its multi-state glory, keep in mind that it is still just a theory.
Phillip Lai/Flickr This untouched wilderness of towering pines, grizzly bears, and waterfalls is a true Idaho femme fatale, but I wouldn’t tempt that fate if I were you.
What do you think? It seems like the circumstances needed to achieve the “perfect crime” (a book by the same name was recently written about that idea as well), are darn near impossible, making a legal freebie thankfully an unrequited fear. But it’s still a fascinating piece of Idaho all the same!
CCO3
Partha Chowdhury/Flickr
katie wheeler/Flickr
In fact, the same geologic marvels that make Yellowstone so popular exist in Idaho as well, and have created multiple magnificent volcanic calderas along Eastern Idaho’s border, incredible natural springs, and even our own stunning waterfalls. Pretty incredible, right?
TravelingOtter/Flickr
The phrase was coined by Kalt in his article and refers to the possibility of committing murder, here, only to walk away scot-free.
Wikimedia Commons
Here’s how it works: Like all national parks, Yellowstone is considered federal land. While small parts of it fall in Idaho (and Montana as well), Congress placed the entire park in Wyoming’s district - the only one in the country to cross state lines.
Uniquely, the 6th Amendment grants a criminal defendant the right to a trial by jury, consisting of members living in the state AND district where the crime was committed. But this inconspicuous piece of land is in one state (Idaho) and the district of another (Wyoming), essentially enabling criminal activity and legal immunity on the outskirts of the country’s original national park.
Todd Petrie/Flickr
Meaning, if after reading this you’re inspired to take an impromptu camping trip with your nemesis, be aware that the immunity doesn’t apply. Sorry! Plus, there’s the added threat of civil lawsuits by individual parties and facing potential jail time for an offense that doesn’t warrant a jury.
Phillip Lai/Flickr
This untouched wilderness of towering pines, grizzly bears, and waterfalls is a true Idaho femme fatale, but I wouldn’t tempt that fate if I were you.
If you decide to head to Eastern Idaho (hopefully for legal, innocent reasons), there are plenty of other things to see in the area! Check out this absolutely stunning hike in the Palisades, or the Idaho’s largest natural spring – which also happens to be hiding a special, historic place. Is the Gem State amazing, or what?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
