Who is Idaho’s Most Notorious Criminal?

For decades Boise Idaho housed some of the most violent, vicious, and downright scary criminals in the country. Horrific humans came from all over the world to serve their time at the Old Penitentiary. Who do you think Idaho's worst has been?

Readers Digest Idaho's most notorious criminal was James Edward Wood, “Convicted and sentenced to death in 1993 for the kidnapping and murder of an 11-year-old Idaho girl, James Wood [is] credited with at least 85 rapes, 185 robberies, and dozens of murders,” according to Murderpedia. Wood died in prison in 2002 of a heart attack."

He never served at the Old Pen as it was closed but the time Wood was sentenced. Idaho's Old Penitentiary is considered one of the Most Haunted Places in America. The prison originally opened in 1872 and a lot has happened behind the raised towered walls since. 

I was afforded the opportunity to take a behind the scenes tour with Josh Lewis, Roofing and Asbestos Program Manager for the State of Idaho, who has done work on the Old Pen and Stephen Chesnut, the Maintenance and Operations Supervisor of the Old Penitentiary. Stephen has worked exclusively at the old pen for about 5 years and is a wealth of knowledge.

The Old Idaho Penitentiary is well known and often named the most haunted spot in the gem state. After the second riots broke out and a massively destructive fire in the kitchen and dining area in 1973 the prison closed after housing some of the most dangerous criminals in the world for over 100 years. 

See the ins and outs of this historic, iconic and haunted piece of Idaho.