Ex-police chief and convicted killer who escaped from an Arkansas jail has been captured
This undated photo provided by the Arkansas Department of Corrections Communications Department shows inmate Grant Hardin. (Arkansas Department of Corrections Communications Department via AP)
A former police chief and convicted killer known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks' was captured by law enforcement 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) northwest of the prison he escaped from following 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.
Jeff Martin, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
3 hours ago
- National Post
American father wanted for allegedly killing his three daughters may be trying to flee to Canada
An American military veteran accused of kidnapping and killing his three young daughters near Leavenworth, Washington, is still at large, possibly near the Canadian border in Washington state. Article content Travis Decker's connection to Canada focuses on apparent plans to flee to this country in the days leading up to the deaths of his three daughters. Article content Article content What evidence points to a Canadian connection? Article content According to court documents and a U.S. Marshals Service affidavit, Decker conducted several Google searches on May 26, 2025, such as 'how does a person move to Canada,' 'how to relocate to Canada,' and 'jobs Canada.' He also visited the official Canadian government job website, 'Find a job – Article content Article content This site provides resources for finding employment and information about working in Canada, suggesting he was looking for practical steps to secure work as part of a relocation plan. Article content Article content While specific details of every site he visited are not public, his search terms and the official nature of the websites accessed align with typical pre-arrival research steps. These include understanding immigration pathways and requirements, exploring job markets and employment resources, gathering information about settling in Canada, such as housing and health care. Article content Does the location of the bodies of Decker's daughters link him to Canada? Article content The bodies of Decker's daughters were discovered near a campground in Chelan County, Washington, relatively close to the Canadian border and approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a well-known route that leads directly into Canada. Article content Article content Why would Decker's military training influence the choice to slip into this country? Article content Article content Authorities believe Decker may have been planning to use his military survival and navigation skills to escape into Canada undetected, possibly via remote terrain, such as the Pacific Crest Trail. His training included land navigation, survival, long-distance movement, and operating in woodland and mountainous terrain — skills that would be critical for traversing remote areas near the Canadian border. Article content Both law enforcement and family members have noted Decker's ability to live off grid for extended periods, reportedly up to 2.5 months, using his survival knowledge to remain hidden for an extended period. This has shaped their search strategy, focusing on wilderness areas and trails that require advanced survival abilities. Article content The U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies have expanded their search to areas near the Canadian border, and they are considering the possibility that Decker may have attempted to cross into Canada to evade prosecution. Article content
CTV News
6 hours ago
- CTV News
Ex-police chief and convicted killer who escaped from an Arkansas prison has been captured
This combo of images released by the Arkansas Department of Corrections shows the recapture of escaped inmate Grant Hardin, an ex-police chief and convicted killer, by Arkansas law enforcement officers and the U.S. Border Patrol , Friday, June 6, 2025, near Moccasin Creek in Izard County, about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) northwest of Calico Rock prison. in Calico Rock, Ark. (Arkansas Department of Corrections via AP)
CBC
12 hours ago
- CBC
Your browser does not support the video tag.
CBC Investigates Below the surface Inside the police investigation into the human smuggling network behind the deaths of nine people on the St. Lawrence River in 2023. Pause
