Latest news with #DevilInTheOzarks'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Notorious 'Devil in the Ozarks' finally caught after weeks-long manhunt that drew multiple agencies
Escapee Grant Hardin, a convicted murderer and rapist who sparked a multi-agency manhunt after fleeing custody last month, has been captured. Nicknamed the "Devil in the Ozarks," Hardin was apprehended this afternoon approximately 1.5 miles north-northwest of the North Central Unit prison facility from which he escaped on May 25, the Izard County Sheriff's Office said. Hardin's identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis prior to the department's announcement of his long-awaited capture. Officials said that he was taken into custody without incident, ending a weeks-long manhunt that had drawn in local law enforcement, state police, federal agencies, and elite tactical units. The capture of the fugitive came after authorities focused their search in the rugged, remote terrain surrounding the prison grounds. Dangerous 'Devil In The Ozarks' Former Police Chief On The Run As Expert Warns Outdoorsmen To Stay Away The Arkansas Department of Correction said that Hardin's eventual capture was a joint effort by Arkansas law enforcement officers and the U.S. Border Patrol near Moccasin Creek. Tracking dogs were able to pick up a scent in the area, and Hardin was apprehended a short time later, they said. Read On The Fox News App "Thanks to the great work of local, state and federal law enforcement, Arkansans can breathe a sigh of relief and I can confirm that violent criminal Grant Hardin is back in custody," said Governor Sarah Sanders. "I am grateful for all law enforcement who contributed to his capture and give special thanks to the Trump administration and Secretary Kristi Noem, who sent a team from Border Patrol that was instrumental in tracking and apprehending Hardin." Sources told Fox News that Hardin appeared malnourished when he was apprehended. Hardin, 56, was serving an 80-year sentence for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and a previously unsolved 1997 rape case. Hardin escaped prison through a sally port, wearing a makeshift ADC-style uniform, ADC communications director Rand Champion said last week, noting the uniform he was wearing was not official. Following his escape at approximately 2:55 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, federal and local law enforcement tirelessness searched for the ex-police chief. "I'm incredibly appreciative to all of our dedicated law enforcement agencies that spent countless hours, both day and night, sacrificing their time, utilizing their resources and lending their invaluable expertise to this search," said Secretary of Corrections Lindsay Wallace. "To every one of our Department staff that assisted in this manhunt over the last 13 days, I give my heartfelt thank you for your immeasurable contributions to bring this search to a peaceful conclusion." Arkansas Officials Release New Photo Of Escaped 'Devil In The Ozarks' On Run For Weeks In a statement, the Izard County Sheriff's Office thanked the public and the law enforcement community for their ongoing support and vigilance during the manhunt. "We sincerely appreciate the continued support of the community for all law enforcement personnel involved in this operation," the department said. WATCH: Officials have not yet released further details regarding how Hardin was located or whether he received any outside assistance during his escape. Investigations into the security breach remain ongoing. Fox News Digital's Audrey Conklin contributed to this article source: Notorious 'Devil in the Ozarks' finally caught after weeks-long manhunt that drew multiple agencies
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Dangerous 'Devil in the Ozarks' former police chief on the run as expert warns outdoorsmen to stay away
A survivalist is issuing a warning for hikers and outdoorsmen in the Ozarks of Arkansas: steer clear of the area. Shawn Hendrix's warning comes amid an ongoing search for prison escapee and former Gateway Police Department Chief Grant Hardin, 56, who fled from a medium-security prison in Calico Rock on Sunday, May 25, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC). Nicknamed the "Devil in the Ozarks," Hardin was serving decades in prison for murder and rape. "I think that the big thing that gets him caught or dead in the field is getting injured … or a foodborne illness — he drinks some bad water," Hendrix told Fox News Digital. "Now, if he gets dysentery or some kind of really bad foodborne or waterborne illness, that could take him out real quick. So, let's hope that he drinks some bad water and has some really terrible disease that gets him out of the woods because my biggest concern is that if you're a hiker or a camper or hunter out there, you're not going to see it coming." Arkansas Officials Release New Photo Of Escaped 'Devil In The Ozarks' On Run For Weeks Hendrix added that Hardin has shown little regard for human life in the past, and "every person in the woods right now is an opportunity for equipment for this guy." Arkansas authorities have warned that the escapee may be armed and dangerous. Read On The Fox News App "I definitely would stay clear of the area," he said. Former Arkansas Police Chief Grant Hardin's Prison Escape Offers Unique Challenges To Searchers: Experts Hardin escaped prison through a sally port, wearing a makeshift ADC-style uniform, ADC communications director Rand Champion said last week, noting the uniform he was wearing was not official. The former police chief pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a man in the face inside the victim's work truck in 2017. After submitting DNA samples when he was booked for the murder case, his DNA was linked to the 1997 cold-case rape of a teacher. He pleaded guilty in that case in 2019, according to KNWA. 'Devil In The Ozarks': Fbi Offers $10K Reward For Capture Of Former Arkansas Police Chief On The Run "This guy is just so evil. I mean, this guy is a sociopath," Hendrix said. "[Hardin] has no care for humans or anybody but himself. He's law-enforcement trained. He has a history of issues in and out of the police. I think there's a whole bigger story of how this guy was a cop for 27 years, right? … I would not want to be out looking for this guy." Hardin is described as a 6-foot White male, weighing approximately 259 pounds. Hendrix said at that weight, Hardin has a caloric reserve that could help him survive for weeks alone in wooded areas of the Ozarks, which have hundreds of caves and natural resources that include food, water, berries and other natural food supplies. Devil In The Ozarks' Who Escaped Prison Likely Still In Arkansas Area: Officials "There's just a lot of, you know, berries, cattails, fish, you know, there's like natural native fruits like persimmon, maybe even plums in that area," Hendrix explained. "So there's a lot of … natural things to live off the land. If he has a gun, I don't know about using a gun to shoot an animal just because of how loud it would be, but there [are] ways to get food. … He's such a heavy individual [at] 260 pounds. He's got a couple of months of reserves." Police searching for Hardin in the wilderness will likely be looking for "concealed" evidence of a person living in the woods, such as a burnt-out fire or other materials that have been covered up, or an underground fire. The FBI and U.S. Marshals are offering a combined $25,000 for any information leading to Hardin's capture. They are asking anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at Manhunt Underway After Disgraced Former Police Chief Convicted Of Murder, Rape Escapes Arkansas Prison Champion said during a news conference last week that authorities are fairly confident in the route they believe Hardin took when he escaped and said authorities believed he was still in the Ozarks area, but a federal complaint filed against Hardin on May 30 suggests another possibility: he may be out of state. Based on two unconfirmed sightings, including one in Missouri on May 26, a day after Hardin escaped, federal officials believe he's not in Arkansas anymore, as The Arkansas Democrat Gazette first reported. "He has extensive knowledge of the Ozark Mountain region, where he is believed to be possibly hiding in caves or rugged terrain that he is familiar with," Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert J. Hammons wrote in the criminal complaint, according to the Gazette. Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of article source: Dangerous 'Devil in the Ozarks' former police chief on the run as expert warns outdoorsmen to stay away
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Arkansas officials release new photo of escaped 'Devil in the Ozarks' on run for weeks
The Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) on Tuesday released an updated photo of Grant Hardin, a former police chief-turned-prisoner who escaped detention on May 25, as a large-scale manhunt continues near the Ozarks. Former Gateway Police Department Chief Hardin, 56, fled from the North Central Unit, a medium-security prison, in Calico Rock that Sunday afternoon, according to ADC. Nicknamed the "Devil in the Ozarks," Hardin was serving decades in prison for murder and rape. "The search for escaped inmate Grant Hardin is ongoing as teams continue to focus their efforts in the north central Arkansas region while investigating tips as they are received," ADC said in a Tuesday update, along with a photo showing Hardin with facial hair. "With over a week passing since Hardin escaped the North Central Unit, we are releasing a possible updated headshot which could reflect how he might look today." The FBI and U.S. Marshals are offering a combined $25,000 for any information leading to Hardin's capture. They are asking anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at Former Arkansas Police Chief Grant Hardin's Prison Escape Offers Unique Challenges To Searchers: Experts It took less than 30 minutes for prison officials to notice that Hardin had disappeared from prison. Photos that the Stone County Sheriff's Office posted to social media show Hardin wearing an ADC-style uniform during his escape through a sally port, though ADC communications director Rand Champion said the uniform he was wearing was not official. Read On The Fox News App Louisiana Ag Confident Remaining Jailbreak Fugitives Will Be Recaptured After Officials Make 14Th Arrest Hardin has ties to Garfield, Eureka Springs, Holiday Island and Huntsville, according to the FBI. Champion said during a news conference last week that authorities are fairly confident in the route they believe Hardin took when he escaped and his current location. He added that the public should assume Hardin is "a very dangerous individual," and there is a risk he may commit more crimes while he is on the run. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years for murder plus additional time for rape. Manhunt Underway After Disgraced Former Police Chief Convicted Of Murder, Rape Escapes Arkansas Prison He pleaded guilty to the 2017 murder of James Appleton, 59, a city water employee who was found shot in the face inside his work truck, KNWA reported. While Hardin was being booked into the state prison around that time, officials submitted his DNA sample into a database. His DNA linked him to the rape cold case of a teacher in 1997, the outlet reported. 'Devil In The Ozarks' Who Escaped Prison Likely Still In Arkansas Area: Officials Hardin ended up pleading guilty in that case in 2019, according to KNWA. The former police chief's escape came two days after 10 prisoners escaped a correctional facility in New Orleans, eight of whom have since been recaptured while two remain at large. Hardin is described as a 6-foot White male, weighing approximately 259 pounds. Fox News' Stepheny Price and Louis Casiano contributed to this article source: Arkansas officials release new photo of escaped 'Devil in the Ozarks' on run for weeks
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Devil in the Ozarks': FBI offers $20K reward for capture of former Arkansas police chief on the run
The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the re-capture of a former Arkansas police chief serving time for murder and rape — dubbed "the Devil in the Ozarks" — who escaped on the afternoon of May 25. Former Gateway Police Department Chief Grant Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit, a medium-security prison, that Sunday afternoon in Calico Rock, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC). The FBI said Hardin has ties to Garfield, Eureka Springs, Holiday Island and Huntsville. "The FBI's Little Rock Field Office is assisting the U.S. Marshal Service, the Arkansas Department of Corrections, and the Arkansas State Police with the search for and apprehension of Grant Matthew Hardin," reads an FBI wanted poster. Texas Escaped Inmate Considered Armed And Dangerous After Psychiatric Hospital Break Former FBI agent Rob D'Amico told "Fox & Friends" Friday morning that Hardin's past as a police chief may give him a unique advantage on the run. Read On The Fox News App "I think it makes it a lot more challenging. He knows how they do it. He knows what they look for, he knows how they follow leads. He knows how they do surveillance," D'Amico said. 'Devil In The Ozarks' Who Escaped Prison Likely Still In Arkansas Area: Officials The former FBI agent noted that there are likely many unmanned, unlocked cabins and sheds in wooded areas around Stone County, which is located East of the Ozark Mountains. ADC Communications Director Rand Champion said during a Wednesday news conference that authorities are fairly confident in the route they believe Hardin took when he escaped prison and his current location in the region. Manhunt Underway After Disgraced Former Police Chief Convicted Of Murder, Rape Escapes Arkansas Prison "Based on the information that we have and the experience of our teams, they feel fairly confident that he is still fairly close to this region," Champion said, noting that "all it takes is one vehicle" for Hardin to use to travel elsewhere, though officials have established a perimeter around the area of Stone County. "As of this time, they are still very confident that he is in the area," Champion said. Massive Jail Break In New Orleans 'Impossible' Without Staff Involvement, Says Ex-fbi Fugitive Hunter Champion said the public should assume Hardin is "a very dangerous individual," and there is a risk he may commit more crimes while he is on the run. It took less than 30 minutes for prison officials to notice that Hardin had disappeared from prison. Photos that the Stone County Sheriff's Office posted to social media show Hardin wearing an ADC-style uniform during his escape through a sally port, though Champion said the uniform he was wearing was not an official uniform. Louisiana Ag Confident Remaining Jailbreak Fugitives Will Be Captured After Officials Make 14Th Arrest Hardin was sentenced to 30 years for murder plus additional time for rape. He pleaded guilty to the 2017 murder of James Appleton, 59, a city water employee who was found shot in the face inside his work truck, KNWA reported. While Hardin was being booked into the state prison around that time, officials submitted his DNA sample into a database. His DNA ended up linking him to the rape cold case of a teacher in 1997, the outlet reported. Hardin ended up pleading guilty in that case in 2019, according to KNWA. The former police chief's escape came two days after 10 prisoners escaped a correctional facility in New Orleans, eight of whom have since been re-captured while two remain at large. Hardin is described as a 6 ft. white male, weighing approximately 259 pounds. The FBI is asking tipsters to call 1-800-CALL-FBI with any information concerning the escapee. Fox News' Stepheny Price and Louis Casiano contributed to this article source: 'Devil in the Ozarks': FBI offers $20K reward for capture of former Arkansas police chief on the run
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas escaped inmate considered armed and dangerous after psychiatric hospital break
The Austin Police Department has issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert for an inmate who escaped while on hold at a psychiatric hospital in Texas. McArthur Mathis was transported to The Cross Creek Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital on Wednesday after being in custody in Grimes County since he was arrested Jan. 2 on multiple warrants. Mathis is also a registered sex offender. Mathis is facing multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury to a family member, obstruction or retaliation, deadly conduct and burglary of a habitation. 'Devil In The Ozarks' Who Escaped Prison Likely Still In Arkansas Area: Officials Police say they responded to an urgent welfare call at around 10:30 p.m. and learned that Mathis had allegedly kicked the back door open and jumped over a 6-foot fence. Mathis could be attempting to return to known contacts in Grimes, Lavaca, Brazos or Gonzales counties, the department said. Read On The Fox News App Louisiana Ag Confident Remaining Jailbreak Fugitives Will Be Recaptured After Officials Make 14Th Arrest Police also said Mathis should be considered armed and dangerous due to his criminal history. Anyone with information on Mathis is asked to contact the Grimes County Sheriff's Office at 936-873-2151, Grimes County Crimestoppers at (936) 873-2000, or article source: Texas escaped inmate considered armed and dangerous after psychiatric hospital break
