Ex-police chief and convicted killer who escaped from an Arkansas jail has been captured
A former police chief and convicted killer known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks' was captured by law enforcement 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of the prison he escaped from following a massive, nearly two-weeks-long manhunt in the mountains of northern Arkansas, authorities announced on Friday.
Grant Hardin's identity was confirmed through fingerprinting, the Izard County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.
Hardin, a former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. Eventually, his notoriety led to a TV documentary, 'Devil in the Ozarks.'
Hardin had been held at the Calico Rock prison since 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in a fatal shooting. In order to escape, he had impersonated a corrections officer 'in dress and manner,' according to a court document. A prison officer in one of the guard towers opened a secure gate, allowing him to walk out of the facility.
Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the state prison system, said that someone should have checked Hardin's identity before he was allowed to leave, describing the lack of verification as a 'lapse' that's being investigated.
Searchers had been using bloodhounds, officers on horseback, drones and helicopters in their hunt for Hardin since he escaped on May 25.
An elite and highly trained U.S. Border Patrol team had recently joined the search, federal authorities announced this week.
The Border Patrol Tactical Team known as BORTAC provided 'advanced search capabilities and operational support' in the hunt for Hardin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. Its members are experienced in navigating complex terrain, the agency said. The Ozark Mountains region is known for its rocky and rugged landscape, thick forests and an extensive cave network.
Hardin pleaded guilty in 2017 to first-degree murder for the killing of James Appleton, 59. Appleton worked for the Gateway water department when he was shot in the head Feb. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton's body inside a car. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Hardin's DNA was also matched to the 1997 rape of a teacher at an elementary school in Rogers, north of Fayetteville. He was sentenced to 50 years for that crime.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOWa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Police surround home of presidential hopeful in Cameroon
Cameroon's main opposition leader Maurice Kamto says police have surrounded his home for the past two days since he returned from France, where he had held a political rally that inflamed the ruling CPDM party. On Sunday law enforcement officers blocked the 71-year-old from leaving his lodgings in the main city of Douala for a meeting with members of his Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party. He later called off plans to hold the meeting on Monday because of the strong police presence. Kamto plans to contest Cameroon's presidential election later this year, hoping to end 92-year-old Paul Biya's four-decade grip on power. Biya has not yet declared whether he will stand for re-election. Kamto spent nine months in detention after contesting the 2018 poll, when the authorities accused the former law professor of insurrection following protests by his supporters who claimed that the poll had been rigged in favour of Biya. The government denied the allegation. While in Paris last month, Kamto promised to protect Biya and his family if he wins October's election. "When you do me the great of honour of entrusting me with the reins, you can be sure that nothing will happen to Mr Biya and his family. Nothing. I guarantee it, I have no time for hatred. I [only] have time to build Cameroon with you," he told thousands of Cameroonians living in the diaspora who had turned up to his rally on 31 May. This did not go down well with ruling party officials, with one calling his comments "pathetic". "What protection do they need? Which family are we talking about?," asked Labour Minister Grégoire Owona in a Facebook post, adding, "Cameroon is not in danger." Following Kamto's return, security has been tightened in parts of Douala. Police officers on the ground told the BBC on Monday that they had been instructed to watch the neighbourhood where Kamto was staying, and the media was not allowed to film. Footage filmed in the city on Sunday evening showed Kamto telling supporters "as I speak, I'm still sequestered". "Go home in calm and dignity," he told chanting supporters who had gathered at the scene. Police and gendarme officers had also restricted access to the CRM party building that Kamto was trying to reach, saying the meeting was not authorised. But Kamto denies this, saying local authorities and law enforcement officials were informed that he was coming to the city for a meeting. As the election approaches, rights groups have condemned the government's crackdown on dissent in the Central African nation. Parliamentary elections that were also supposed to take place earlier this year have been delayed until 2026. Biya has been in power for 42 years and is one of the world's oldest heads of state. Last year the country banned reports on the president's health, following rumours that he had died. Kamto's eligibility to run for the presidency is in question, because Cameroonian law demands that any political party must already have elected representatives in place if its leader wishes to run for president. At the last presidential election Kamto's CRM party had one senator, but going into this election it has no elected officials. Alternatively Kamto could run as an independent candidate, for which he would need 300 signatures from designated personalities from across the country. Yet Kamto insists there is "no legal obstacle" stopping his bid for the presidency, and CRM representative Guy Tassé told the AFP news agency that there was "a political manoeuvre by the regime to try to block the candidate they fear because he embodies real change". The country is also in the throes of a separatist insurgency - with rebels demanding independence for Cameroon's two English-speaking provinces, which are home to 20% of the population. In the near-decade since the conflict began, at least 6,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes. 'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiers Art curator Koyo Kouoh dies at height of career The lawyer risking everything to defend LGBT rights Paul Biya: Cameroon's 'absentee president' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
USA Today
37 minutes ago
- USA Today
Body of 17-year-old boy found in Georgia lake: Local racing, rodeo communities mourn loss
Body of 17-year-old boy found in Georgia lake: Local racing, rodeo communities mourn loss "He started his racing career this year and was on a path to make his mark in the industry," Dixie Speedway Vice President Mia Green wrote about Croft in a Facebook post. Authorities located the body of a 17-year-old boy in a Georgia Lake on Friday after he went missing the day before. Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Game Wardens located Jackson Cole Croft just before 4 p.m. ET on Friday, June 6 from Allatoona Lake, Georgia DNR Public Affairs Officer Mark McKinnon told USA TODAY. Croft was recovered shortly after, from 22 feet in the water, by local divers. Located in northwest Georgia, Allatoona Lake is about 35 miles north of Atlanta. Croft was reported missing on Thursday, June 5 after a boat he was on was found circling in the lake with no driver, McKinnon previously told USA TODAY. Georgia racing, rodeo communities mourns loss Croft and his family were avid members of the racing community in Woodstock, Georgia. The 17-year-old had recently begun driving racing car No. 9 at the Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, about 30 miles north of Atlanta. "This precious family has been a huge part of Dixie Speedway's history and dear friends for many years," Dixie Speedway Vice President Mia Green said in a Facebook post on June 6. "Jackson had been around racing his entire life with his dad, Jason Croft. He started his racing career this year and was on a path to make his mark in the industry." The Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown, North Carolina also extended its condolences on social media. "The entire Tri-County Racetrack family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jackson Croft, a vibrant young man whose life was tragically cut short," a Facebook post reads. "While words can never ease the pain, please know that your racing family stands with you in prayer, love, and support." Croft was also involved in Georgia's rodeo community, specifically through RockN'5L Rodeo Company's Jr. Pro Division. To celebrate Croft's life, the rodeo company, located in Cedartown, Georgia, is hosting a tribute to the late teen on Saturday, June 14. Attendees are encouraged to wear green, as Croft's favorite color was camo green. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Driver held after man hit by car at McDonald's
A driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a man was struck by a car in a McDonald's car park. Police said the 21-year-old suffered a broken leg and will require ongoing medical treatment after being hit by a black Fiat Abarth outside an outlet off Bellfield Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire shortly after 10:30 BST on Saturday. A 22-year-old man was arrested and has since been bailed, pending further inquiries. The force would like to hear from anyone who saw the incident or who may have caught the incident on dash-cam. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Car crashes into McDonald's restaurant Derbyshire Police
