Edward "Chip" Hailstone, the Alaskan survivalist best known from National Geographic's Life Below Zero, went to jail for perjury and making false statements to police — charges that stemmed from a 2011 incident involving his daughter and an Alaska State Trooper. He served 15 months at Anchorage Correctional Complex beginning in 2017, missing an entire season of the show in the process. His case divided fans, with many insisting he was imprisoned wrongfully.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Chip Hailstone's real name is Edward V. Hailstone; he was born on 8 March 1969 in Kalispell, Montana.
- He was convicted on two counts of perjury and two counts of providing false information to a police officer.
- He served his 15-month sentence at Anchorage Correctional Complex, beginning in 2017.
- Life Below Zero was cancelled after 23 seasons; its final episode aired on 23 February 2025.
- As of 2026, Chip and his wife Agnes Hailstone continue to live off the land in Noorvik, Alaska.
Profile summary
Full name | Edward "Chip" Hailstone |
Date of birth | 8 March 1969 |
Place of birth | Kalispell, Montana, USA |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Hunter, trapper, reality TV personality |
Spouse | Agnes Hailstone (née Carter) |
Children | Five daughters (Tinmiaq, Iriqtaq, Mary, Caroline, Qutan); two stepsons |
Residence | Noorvik, Alaska |
Known for | Life Below Zero (National Geographic) |
Chip Hailstone was convicted on two felony counts of perjury and two misdemeanour counts of providing false information to an Alaska State Trooper. The case began not with a crime, but with a complaint — one that Chip insists was entirely truthful.
The 2011 incident in Noorvik
Hailstone's conviction stems from an incident in mid-July 2011 in which he alleged a state trooper physically assaulted his then-17-year-old daughter. At one point during the interview, he said his daughter extended her arm toward Trooper Christopher Bitz while talking. The trooper, he said, responded by grabbing her right hand and moving to put her into a control position.
According to an indictment handed down by a Kotzebue grand jury, Hailstone was also charged following a separate July 13, 2011 incident involving another family in Noorvik, in which Hailstone claimed a resident had pointed a rifle at his daughter after an altercation involving his son, Jonathan Carter.
Hailstone, contending the contact was unnecessary, made a request with Kotzebue Magistrate Brooke Alowa for a restraining order on behalf of his daughter on 20 July 2011. An Alaska Bureau of Investigation review, however, contradicted his claims.
The trial and conviction
Edward "Chip" Hailstone was found guilty by a jury of all four charges against him on Friday, 27 July. He was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment and a three-year probationary sentence in December 2012.
Throughout the proceedings, Chip maintained his innocence. According to his trial attorney, Hailstone maintained that his previous descriptions of the events were accurate, and that he was not guilty of perjury or providing false information because he was telling the truth.
His public defender, Jay Hochberg, mounted an aggressive defence. He argued that Chip's testimony was accurate and that the Alaska State Police had manipulated the audio recordings submitted as evidence. Hochberg brought in a forensic audio expert who testified that the tape had been paused for approximately eleven seconds, arguing that the missing section contained the trooper's threats to the family. Chip said:
"Really, I'm just looking forward to getting this dropped. The anxiety for the past two years has been nuts, especially for Tinmiaq and Agnes. I can't wait until that's gone."
The appeal and prison sentence
Hailstone appealed against his conviction, insisting that he did not knowingly provide false information to the police. His appeal was dismissed in July 2017. With no further options available, he served fifteen months at Anchorage Correctional Complex beginning in 2017, was absent from Life Below Zero during Season 10, and returned to the show after his release.
During the case, Alaska State Patrol Captain Barry Wilson, C Detachment Commander, stated: "Mr. Hailstone's actions significantly undermined the justice system."
After his sentence, Chip was under probation from using modern firearms, which led to his wife doing most of the shooting during their hunting sessions.
Who is Chip Hailstone?
Edward "Chip" Hailstone was born on 8 March 1969 in Kalispell, Montana. He relocated to southeast Alaska in 1988 at age nineteen, drawn by accounts of hunting grounds he had read about, and moved further north into the Arctic region the following year.
His wife, Agnes Hailstone, was born Agnes J. Carter on 14 June 1972, in Noorvik, Alaska, where she has lived her entire life. She is Inupiaq and Norwegian, a registered tribal member of the Kuuvanmuit in Noorvik, and the only native Alaskan in the original main cast.
Together, the couple has five daughters — Tinmiaq, Iriqtaq, Mary, Caroline, and Qutan — and Agnes has two sons, Jon and Douglas, from a previous marriage.
Chip Hailstone's career on Life Below Zero
National Geographic Channel's Emmy-winning Life Below Zero has been following people who live in remote parts of Alaska for over a decade. The show premiered on 19 May 2013. Chip Hailstone is an American television personality and subsistence hunter best known for his appearance on the series. The show follows Hailstone and his family navigating the harsh realities of living in Noorvik, Alaska, a remote community north of the Arctic Circle.
He is a registered hunter in Alaska; however, he legally cannot hunt marine animals, as those rights are reserved for native Inupiaq.
Why is Agnes Hailstone not on Life Below Zero?
Fans periodically noticed Agnes missing from episodes, sparking online speculation. Agnes took some time off from the show, missing a couple of episodes in September 2023, but remained a regular cast member. She returned to screens for Season 22, which kicked off in November 2023.
Agnes does not have public social media profiles, making it harder for viewers to follow updates. There was never any official response from Nat Geo, nor any explanation from Agnes herself.
Latest news: Life Below Zero cancelled after 23 seasons
The end came in late 2024 when Disney, which owns National Geographic, declined to renew the production contract. The most public confirmation came from Chip Hailstone himself, who wrote on social media: "Well, folks, its official; Life Below Zero has run its course. No contract, No Life Below Zero."
The final episode aired on 23 February 2025. The show's cancellation covered not only the flagship series but also its offshoots: Life Below Zero: Next Generation, Life Below Zero: First Alaskans, and Port Protection Alaska.
As of 2026, the Hailstone family continues to live off the land in Noorvik, processing caribou, harvesting fish, and maintaining their subsistence lifestyle on the Kobuk River. All 23 seasons and 325 episodes of Life Below Zero are currently available on Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
Where is Chip Hailstone now?
As of 2026, Chip and Agnes Hailstone remain in Noorvik, continuing the subsistence lifestyle the cameras documented for twelve years. Chip is active on his X account, where he has shared updates about his life and the show's cancellation.
Chip Hailstone's net worth
As of recent estimates, Chip Hailstone's net worth is believed to be between $100,000 and $250,000. Sources vary considerably: most of Chip's income comes from his role on Life Below Zero, with cast members reportedly earning around $4,500 per episode.
His income sources include:
- TV earnings from Life Below Zero across 23 seasons
- Selling animal products — the family hunts caribou, fox, seal, and fish, and some parts can be sold or traded
- Annual Permanent Fund Dividends for living in Alaska, reported to be between $9,000 and $18,000 per year
Is Chip Hailstone still alive?
Yes — Chip Hailstone is alive. Following his release from prison, Chip returned to Noorvik and rejoined the show alongside Agnes until its cancellation in 2025. As of 2026, the Hailstone family continues to live off the land in Noorvik. There is no credible reporting of any health concerns or issues.
Frequently asked questions
- What did Chip Hailstone go to jail for? He was convicted on two felony counts of perjury and two misdemeanour counts of providing false information to an Alaska State Trooper, stemming from a 2011 incident in which he claimed a trooper physically assaulted his daughter.
- How long was Chip Hailstone in jail? Chip Hailstone served fifteen months in prison at Anchorage Correctional Complex, beginning in 2017. He was absent from Life Below Zero during Season 10.
- Where is Chip Hailstone now? As of 2026, the Hailstone family continues to live off the land in Noorvik, processing caribou, harvesting fish, and maintaining their subsistence lifestyle on the Kobuk River.
- Is Chip Hailstone still alive? Yes. As of 2026, Chip Hailstone is alive and living in Noorvik, Alaska, with his family.
- Why is Agnes Hailstone not on Life Below Zero? Agnes Hailstone took some time out from the show and missed some episodes in September 2023. No official explanation was ever provided. The show itself was eventually cancelled in early 2025.
- What happened to Life Below Zero? Life Below Zero aired its final episode on 23 February 2025, ending a 23-season, 325-episode run on National Geographic. The show was cancelled when Disney declined to renew its production contract with BBC Studios as part of broader cost-cutting in unscripted programming.
- Did Chip Hailstone maintain his innocence? Yes. While law enforcement took the position that Chip was wilfully undermining the justice system, Hailstone and his lawyer continued arguing that the testimony he provided was entirely authentic, and that troopers had tampered with the audio recordings submitted during his proceedings.
- Can Chip Hailstone use firearms? After his conviction, he was initially placed under a probation-related firearms restriction. This led to his wife doing most of the shooting during their hunting sessions. He has since completed his sentence and probation period.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke