'Devil in the Ozarks' killer remains a fugitive. Why is it so hard to find him?
The search for Arkansas prison escapee Grant Hardin - the so-called 'Devil in the Ozarks' killer - is in its second week amid mountainous, rough terrain.
Hardin, a 56-year-old former police chief, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, May 25, where he was serving time for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and the 1997 rape of a school teacher, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
"Inmate Hardin impersonated a corrections officer in dress and manner causing the Corrections Officer operating a secure gate to open the gate and allow Inmate Hardin to walk away from the North Central Unit," Special Agent Dennis Simons of the Izard County Sheriff's Office wrote in an arrest affidavit.
The subject of the 2023 documentary "Devil in the Ozarks" remains at large as the FBI and U.S. Marshall's Service have a combined $25,000 reward for information leading to Hardin's capture.
Rand Champion, director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, told NewsNation June 3 that the mountainous terrain of the Ozarks has made the search difficult.
"We've got to try and access some pretty hard-to-get-to places. And so being able to get into there has caused some challenges,' Champion told the network.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections released a photo Tuesday depicting "what officials feel he would look similar to after a week on the run," Champion said in an email to USA TODAY Tuesday night. He added that the mugshot was altered to represent a week's worth of hair growth and to make Hardin slimmer due to limited food.
Champion said that there are no new developments as of Tuesday night, though tips are being investigated.
Here is a timeline of what we know about Grant Hardin.
Reporting from local outlets and court records show:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rogan reacts live to Elon's 'crazy' Epstein accusation against Trump while interviewing FBI director
Podcaster Joe Rogan was shocked as he read billionaire Elon Musk's wild allegations against President Donald Trump on Thursday. Musk dropped a bomb on social media when he alleged Trump was in the Jeffrey Epstein files after a series of escalating back-and-forth social media messages between him and the president. This accusation occurred as part of a larger tirade against Trump and Republican leaders over the "Big Beautiful Bill." In the episode, which was recorded Thursday but released Friday, a "Joe Rogan Experience" producer interrupted the host's live interview with FBI director Kash Patel to inform him of Musk's Epstein tweet. Watch: Republicans Rally Behind Trump, Continue To Support Musk Amid 'Big, Beautiful' Brawl Rogan read the tweet out loud, "'Time to drop the really big bomb Donald Trump is in the Epstein files, that's the real reason they have not been made public, have a nice day.' "Jesus Christ," he said in shock. Read On The Fox News App "I'm not participating in any of that conversation," Patel said. "Someone should take his phone away," Rogan said as he marveled at Musk's tweet. "Jesus Christ, that's a crazy thing to say. How does he know? Does he know that Donald Trump is in the Epstein files? Does he have access to the Epstein files?" "I don't know how he would," the FBI director said, again insisting he would stay out of the feud. "What the f--- are they doing?" Rogan asked. "I understand he owns Twitter, I think it's bad for your mental health," Rogan said. "I think posting things public all day and arguing with people all day is bad for you." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture "This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful BIll because it does not include the policies he wanted," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again." The White House said a source familiar with the Epstein matter said it is widely known that Trump kicked Epstein out of his Palm Beach Golf Club. The source also pointed out that the administration released the Epstein files, which included Trump's name, and nothing was new about Musk's revelation. "If Elon truly thought the President was more deeply involved with Epstein, why did he hang out with him for 6 months and say he 'loves him as much as a straight man can love a straight man?'" the source said. Shortly after Musk posted about Trump being in the Epstein file, Trump posted his response to Truth Social. "I don't mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago. This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress," Trump said, turning his attention to the "big, beautiful bill" that is before the Senate. "It's a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given. If this Bill doesn't pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase, and things far worse than that." "I didn't create this mess, I'm just here to FIX IT. This puts our Country on a Path of Greatness. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" the president article source: Rogan reacts live to Elon's 'crazy' Epstein accusation against Trump while interviewing FBI director
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mom wants answers after Miami rapper gunned downed in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The mother of a rising rapper who was gunned down in Memphis wants to know why he was killed and wants police to catch all the people responsible. Toya Redwing is talking for the first time about her son's death on March 22 near the FedEx Forum. 1 dead, 1 injured in shooting downtown Letorian Hunt, 27, also known as Sayso P, was shot and killed outside the Westin Hotel. Houston Rapper Sauce Walka, whose real name is Albert Walker Mondane, was also wounded when at least three people jumped out of a white Charger and opened fire. Redwing said her son was born and raised in Memphis but lived in Miami. He was in town to visit a sick relative and had been looking forward to coming home. He had only been at the hotel a couple of days before the shooting. 'I want to know who did this. I want to know who sent them. This is what I told the detectives. These boys didn't do this on their own, at least I don't think so,' said Redwing. 'I don't think he was the intended target.' Shortly after the shooting, the 2021 Dodge Charger 392 Scat Pack was recovered, and police issued a warrant for Jayden Dandridge, 21, for first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. Last week, Dandridge was found dead in Houston. His death was ruled a homicide. 'I was pretty much numb. I didn't cry or grieve for him. He killed my son, and I still want answers,' Redwing said. 'I can't get to the bottom of it if they are all dead.' Redwing said her son wanted to leave Memphis because of the violence. She said he had opened a recording studio in Miami and recently signed a distribution deal with Sauce Walka's record label. Suspect in downtown Memphis shooting found dead in Houston: MPD She said Hunt was kind and generous, always had a smile on his face, and was finally realizing his dreams. Redwing said her son was her best friend, and the pain of his loss has been unlike anything she has experienced before. 'The fact that he won't ever have children. I won't know what my grandkids look like. I won't know if he will have beautiful little daughters or little boys,' said Redwing. 'Watching his growth from a young boy to the man he had become was amazing.' Redwing said Memphis police are currently outmanned and outgunned. She hopes the FBI will step in, as promised, to help, but believes people in the community also need to get involved to stop the crime. The rapper's mom said she would like to start a foundation to help other mothers dealing with the same kind of grief. She also wants to provide resources to young people who are falling through the cracks and committing these acts of violence. 'I've heard, why do you care about them. Screw them. Those people killed your kid,' said Redwing. 'I can't say that with a straight face and be me. They need to be held accountable, but I do know a lot of these kids want a way out.' Redwing said she wants to do something to keep her son's memory alive and show that his life mattered. Hunt was buried at sea in Miami. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
FBI Chief Kash Patel Stuns Joe Rogan With Swatting Admission
FBI Director Kash Patel left podcast bro Joe Rogan virtually speechless as he casually revealed that his house had been swatted. 'What?' asked a stunned Rogan. 'The head of the FBI gets swatted?' 'These people play, it's the ultimate hypocrisy. They have two sets of rules: One against you, and one for them,' Patel said, having just lit a cigar, during an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience published Friday. Patel did not specify who he meant by 'these people,' but instead stoked fears that broader corrupt actors in the government were attempting to snuff out his 'mission' to 'put out the truth.' Patel added that he was committed to 'congressional oversight' as he used most of the interview to stir the same claims of government corruption and 'bad actors' outlined in his 2024 book, Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy—which Rogan plugged. Patel also backed up President Donald Trump's allegations that he was being spied on as part of an investigation into Russian election interference. Patel alleged that former FBI director Andrew McCabe and then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as privy to the scheme, and he claimed they lied to cover it up. However, Patel claimed that he 'caught' them because they were 'arrogant' enough to 'write everything down.' 'Why would they write everything down?' Rogan asked. 'They are so arrogant. They think, 'No one is gonna catch us. I'm going to write everything down. We are gonna put it in a vault, and no one is gonna find it,'' claimed Patel. 'Well, you know what? I found the vault.' Patel claimed they had committed 'illegal activity' by pushing a 'disinformation campaign.' Patel cryptically added with a grin, 'And now I'm going to work.' The Daily Beast has contacted both McCabe and Rosenstein for comment. Rogan, taking Patel's word that crimes had been committed, asked, 'Is there a statute of limitations on these crimes?' Patel said 'generally' there is a five-year statute of limitations on what are known as 'process' crimes. 'But if you can tie them to an overarching conspiracy, there is no statute of limitations,' claimed Patel. 'So if there was more egregious conduct that no one knew about before that we are just finding, then we will have to relook at it.' Yet Patel promised, 'The one thing we will do is put out all that information to the American public.' He added, 'And if we can work with our partners at the DOJ to come up with a prosecution, that will be their decision.' The Daily Beast has contacted Patel for further comment.
