Grant Hardin: Former Police Chief and 'Devil in the Ozarks' Killer Captured Almost Two Weeks after Escaping Arkansas Prison
The former police chief, convicted of murder and rape known as the "Devil in the Ozarks", was nabbed on Friday, less than two miles from the Arkansas prison he broke out of two weeks earlier, according to officials.
Grant Hardin, 56, had managed to avoid being captured since walking out of the Calico Rock prison on May 25, even as authorities used bloodhounds, mounted officers, drones, helicopters, and a specialized U.S. Border Patrol unit in the extensive manhunt over the apst two weeks. "Escapee Grant Hardin was captured this afternoon approximately 1.5 miles west of the prison grounds by law enforcement officials," the Izard County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook.
Nabbed at Last
"His identity was confirmed by fingerprint analysis prior to this announcement notifying the public." U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that the elite Border Patrol Tactical Team, known as BORTAC, helped in the hunt for Hardin by offering "advanced search capabilities and operational support" to law enforcement agencies.
The team's members are trained to operate in challenging environments, such as the rugged Ozark Mountains area where Hardin fled.
Hardin had once served as the police chief in a small, peaceful town near the Arkansas-Missouri border before committing the horrific rape and murder of a local elementary school teacher in 1997.
His shocking crimes were later featured in the television documentary "Devil in the Ozarks."
Life in Jail, an Escape and Capture
Hardin was finally captured and arrested in 2017 after a DNA match linked him to the decades-old murder. He admitted to first-degree murder and received a 30-year prison sentence. In 2018, he again pleaded guilty—this time to additional charges of rape and kidnapping—which added another 50 years to his sentence.
Hardin managed to escape by disguising himself as a prison guard, "in dress and manner," according to court records.
A guard stationed in one of the towers failed to spot the disguise and opened a secured gate, allowing him to walk out.
Rand Champion, a representative for the state's prison system, admitted that Hardin's identity should have been verified before he was allowed to leave the facility.
He confirmed that the security "lapse" will be thoroughly investigated and necessary action will be taken against people responsible for his escape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
International Business Times
5 days ago
- International Business Times
Grant Hardin: Former Police Chief and 'Devil in the Ozarks' Killer Captured Almost Two Weeks after Escaping Arkansas Prison
The former police chief, convicted of murder and rape known as the "Devil in the Ozarks", was nabbed on Friday, less than two miles from the Arkansas prison he broke out of two weeks earlier, according to officials. Grant Hardin, 56, had managed to avoid being captured since walking out of the Calico Rock prison on May 25, even as authorities used bloodhounds, mounted officers, drones, helicopters, and a specialized U.S. Border Patrol unit in the extensive manhunt over the apst two weeks. "Escapee Grant Hardin was captured this afternoon approximately 1.5 miles west of the prison grounds by law enforcement officials," the Izard County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook. Nabbed at Last "His identity was confirmed by fingerprint analysis prior to this announcement notifying the public." U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that the elite Border Patrol Tactical Team, known as BORTAC, helped in the hunt for Hardin by offering "advanced search capabilities and operational support" to law enforcement agencies. The team's members are trained to operate in challenging environments, such as the rugged Ozark Mountains area where Hardin fled. Hardin had once served as the police chief in a small, peaceful town near the Arkansas-Missouri border before committing the horrific rape and murder of a local elementary school teacher in 1997. His shocking crimes were later featured in the television documentary "Devil in the Ozarks." Life in Jail, an Escape and Capture Hardin was finally captured and arrested in 2017 after a DNA match linked him to the decades-old murder. He admitted to first-degree murder and received a 30-year prison sentence. In 2018, he again pleaded guilty—this time to additional charges of rape and kidnapping—which added another 50 years to his sentence. Hardin managed to escape by disguising himself as a prison guard, "in dress and manner," according to court records. A guard stationed in one of the towers failed to spot the disguise and opened a secured gate, allowing him to walk out. Rand Champion, a representative for the state's prison system, admitted that Hardin's identity should have been verified before he was allowed to leave the facility. He confirmed that the security "lapse" will be thoroughly investigated and necessary action will be taken against people responsible for his escape.
Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Straits Times
Former US police chief, jailed for murder and rape, breaks out of prison
Grant Hardin, serving 80 years for his offences, was dressed in a fake police uniform when he escaped. PHOTOS: FACEBOOK/STONE COUNTY ARKSANSAS SHERIFF'S OFFICE Manhunt on after ex-US police chief, jailed for murder and rape, breaks out of high-security prison ARKANSAS - A manhunt entered its second night in northern Arkansas on May 26 after a former police chief convicted of first-degree murder and rape slipped out of a high-security prison, dressed in a fake law enforcement uniform. The search began on the afternoon of May 25, during a routine inmate count. Grant Hardin – one of about 1,000 housed at Calico Rock North Central Unit – had already been missing for 15 to 20 minutes before anyone noticed, officials say. Hardin, 56, who had previously served as the police chief in Gateway, Arkansas, escaped around 2.50pm, county officials said. He is considered extremely dangerous. An image released by the Stone County Sheriff's Office on its Facebook page shows what it says is Hardin wearing clothes similar to a law enforcement uniform, escaping through a controlled gate while pushing a cart of utility materials. 'It has been determined that Hardin was wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped the North Central Unit. He was not wearing a Department of Corrections uniform, and all DOC-issued equipment has been accounted for,' Mr Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections (DOC), said in a statement. Mr Champion said the agency is conducting interviews, retracing steps and reviewing hours of surveillance. There is video footage of Hardin leaving through the controlled gate but nothing showing how or when he put on the makeshift uniform, Mr Champion said. It also remains unclear how far he navigated through the prison in the uniform. When Hardin left the facility, it was raining heavily, which officials say made it difficult for officers and tracking dogs to pursue him. 'It's hard for the dogs to pick up a scent, to put out a drone or helicopters,' Mr Champion said. 'It hindered our officers, but hopefully it hindered the escapee as well.' Mr Champion said he expects the search for Hardin to continue to widen given the amount of time that has passed since his escape. Hardin was briefly the police chief in Gateway, a small town near the Missouri border. He held several other law enforcement positions in the state beginning in the 1990s, including as an elected constable, according to public records and local news reports. He was terminated multiple times, and was trailed by reports of using excessive force, poor performance and, in one instance, falsifying a police report, according to local news media. In 2017, Hardin was arrested and charged with shooting James Appleton just outside Gateway, where Mr Appleton worked in the water department. According to the police affidavit, Mr Appleton was pulled over in a pick-up truck while he was on the phone with his brother-in-law, then was shot in the head at point-blank range with a shotgun. Witnesses identified the shooter as Hardin, who was arrested and pleaded guilty not long after, but he did not offer a motive. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. While Hardin was in prison, his DNA was tied to an unsolved rape case from more than 20 years earlier. According to an affidavit filed in that case, Amy Harrison, an elementary schoolteacher in Rogers, Arkansas, had arrived at her classroom on Nov 9, 1997, a Sunday, to prepare for the week. When leaving the teachers' restroom, she was confronted by a man who pointed a gun at her and raped her. The attack occurred around the same time as a community church service was happening down the hall. Investigators were not able to identify a suspect at the time, but they obtained DNA evidence from Ms Harrison's clothing. After Hardin entered the prison system, he was found to be a match for the DNA. He pleaded guilty to rape and kidnapping in 2018, and was sentenced to an additional 50 years in prison. Law enforcement officials described Hardin as 'extremely dangerous' and warned residents not to approach him if they see him. Roadblocks were in place between Stone and Izard counties, where officials suspected Hardin might flee, and passengers were being checked in every car, according to local news reports. 'I don't feel like he's got a whole lot of choice but to get a vehicle,' Stone County Sheriff Brandon Long said in an interview with local CBS affiliate, 5NEWS. 'Whether he just steals a vehicle or he take someone hostage with the vehicle is our biggest fear.' NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Straits Times
Guatemalan migrant who gave birth in US avoids rapid deportation
FILE PHOTO: A U.S. Customs and Border Protection seal patch is seen at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, U.S. February 7, 2025. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo A Guatemalan migrant who crossed the US border eight months pregnant and gave birth in Arizona has avoided fast-track deportation after intervention by the state's governor, her lawyer and a federal official said on Saturday. The 24-year-old woman gained public attention after lawyer Luis Campos said federal agents denied him access to her in a Tucson hospital after she gave birth on Wednesday and told him she was set for rapid removal after entering the country illegally. The case raised concerns about the treatment of mothers and infants caught in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, prompting Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs to contact federal officials, according to local media. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the woman had been placed in normal deportation proceedings following her discharge from hospital and given the right to contact an attorney. "The woman was transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations with a court date to appear before an immigration judge," said a CBP spokesman. "The child remains with the mother." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Campos said the woman, who he identified only as "Erika," fled a "violent situation" in Guatemala, according to her mother who requested that he represent her. He talked to the woman on Friday and she said she walked for two days in the desert before being apprehended about 50 miles (80 km) south of Tucson. She has the right to express fear of returning to Guatemala and request asylum, he added. "I'm hoping to get news either today or tomorrow that she's been released," said Campos, adding that Phoenix immigration lawyers had offered him their help at the request of Hobbs. The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Hobbs spokesperson told local media her office contacted federal and local officials regarding the welfare of the woman and newborn. "Governor Hobbs has been clear in her opposition to inhumane immigration enforcement practices," the spokesperson said, according to 13News. The CBP spokesman said agents followed the law and adhered to CBP procedures at all times in relation to the woman. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
