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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
FBI joins search for prison escapee known as 'Devil in the Ozarks'
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Law enforcement officers in Arkansas were on the hunt Wednesday for a former police chief who broke out of a state facility where he was imprisoned for rape and murder. Grant Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, on Sunday, wearing a "makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement," according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Hardin, the former police chief in Gateway, Arkansas, was serving decadeslong prison sentences for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and the 1997 rape of a school teacher, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. The rape became the subject of a 2023 documentary titled "Devil in the Ozarks," according to the documentary's IMDB page. "We've since been in touch with the subjects of that film and law enforcement and are praying for Hardin's immediate capture in the name of justice and the victims and their families' peace of mind," Ari Mark, one of the executive producers of the documentary, told USA TODAY. The FBI, Department of Corrections, Arkansas State Police and local police were working to find Hardin, officials said. Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, said in a Wednesday press briefing that the search area has expanded but rainy and overcast conditions have limited the use of drones and helicopters, in addition to curtailing the effectiveness of tracking dogs. Who is Grant Hardin? A closer look at the 'Devil in the Ozarks' Like true crime? Check out Witness: A library of true crime stories In 2017, Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of Appleton, according to a plea agreement. Appleton's brother-in-law, who was the mayor of Gateway at the time, told investigators that he was on the phone with Appleton during the shooting, according to a probable cause affidavit. A witness told investigators he saw a white car parked behind Appleton's truck, heard a loud bang and saw the white car speed away. The witness checked the truck and found Appleton dead, according to the affidavit. A DNA test conducted following the murder conviction connected Hardin to the 1997 rape of a school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case. She was attacked at gunpoint after leaving her classroom to go to a restroom near the teacher's lounge, according to the affidavit. Hardin pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in 2019 and was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for each count consecutively, according to the plea agreement. Before becoming the police chief in Gateway, Hardin worked at the Fayetteville Police Department from Aug. 6, 1990, to May 22, 1991, KHBS/KHOG reported. The department's chief of police at the time said he terminated Hardin because his efforts "fall short of the average probationary officer" and he had a "tendency to not accept constructive criticism along with indecisiveness under stressful situations." Hardin then moved to the Eureka Springs Police Department, where he worked from April 1993 to October 1996. The department's former police chief said Hardin made poor decisions on the job and used excessive force, according to KHBS/KHOG. In 2016, Hardin served as the chief of police for Gateway for about four months, the Associated Press reported. Hardin escaped from a facility located about 130 miles north of Little Rock, Arkansas, at 2:55 p.m. local time on May 25, according to the Department of Corrections. Champion said about 20 minutes passed before an officer discovered Hardin was missing. Hardin escaped through a secure entryway wearing "an ADC type uniform," the Stone County Sheriff's Office said. A photo shared by the sheriff's office shows Hardin pushing a loaded cart. Officials are investigating the events that led to the escape. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Search intensifies for 'Devil in the Ozarks' who fled Arkansas prison
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Ed Gale, 'Chucky' actor from 'Child's Play' series, dies at 61
Ed Gale, who was born with dwarfism and stood 40 inches tall, played Chucky in three movies. Photos: Filepic, IMDB Ed Gale, the actor who brought the murderous Chucky doll to life in the 1988 horror film Child's Play, is dead at 61. His niece Kayse Gale announced with good humour on Facebook that her diminutive dad died Tuesday in a Los Angeles hospice. 'It is with a heavy heart and a surprisingly light coffin (see what I did there?) that we announce the sudden passing of our uncle,' she wrote. In addition to portraying Chucky in three movies in the Child's Play saga, Gale played the title character in Howard The Duck and also had roles in Spaceballs and Bill And Ted's Bogus Journey . The character of Chucky has been voiced throughout the franchise's history by actor Brad Dourif. Kayse said her uncled 'has taken his final bow and is now headlining in the afterlife.' She remembered him as man who loved 7-Eleven hot dogs covered in ketchup and hated comedian Bill Maher for reasons she can't explain. 'Rest in love you cranky bastard,' she concluded her informal obituary. The Michigan native's big screen successes preceded a slew of television appearances on programmes including Land Of The Lost , in which he played a dinosaur named Tasha on more than two-dozen episodes, according to IMDb. His television credits also include roles on Baywatch, Family Matters, 3rd Rock From The Sun, Just Shoot Me and The Hughleys. 'Ed hitched a ride to California when he was 20 years old, with US$41 and a dream, and he never looked back,' his niece recalled. Gale, who was born with dwarfism and stood 40 inches tall, played Chucky in Child's Play , Child's Play 2 and Bride Of Chucky in the series, which consisted of eight instalments including a 2019 reboot of the original. He told in a 2015 interview playing the knife-swinging doll when it turned evil required legitimate acting chops. 'I will not allow people to merely say I was Chucky's stunt double,' Gale insisted. He found himself depicted as a real-life monster in 2023 when a Southern California group called Creep Catchers Unit released video it said proves Gale admitted to pursuing a sexual encounter online with what he thought was a 14-year-old boy, according to Los Angeles station KTLA. That footage appeared to show Gale admitting to other acts of similar improprieties. 'I'm admitting I know it was wrong and it was illegal,' he confessed. 'I'm admitting that and I'm sorry.' The Los Angeles Police Department was reportedly investigating his alleged activities. He hadn't been charged with a crime at the time of his death. In an interview with a 2014 blog that was recycled by the site Rediscover the 80s, Gale thanked The Wizard Of Oz for inspiring him to enter show business when he was a child. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Aubrey Plaza earns standing ovation after first red carpet appearance since husband's death
Aubrey Plaza made a poignant return to the spotlight, walking her first red carpet since the death of her husband in January. The Marin County homeowner attended the Cannes Film Festival last week in support of the new dark comedy 'Honey Don't!' Plaza stars as a cop who falls into a love affair with a small-town private detective, played by Margaret Qualley (' The Substance '), as they investigate 'a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church,' according to the film's synopsis on IMDB. The project also features Chris Evans (who can be seen next month in Celine Song 's 'Materialists'), Charlie Day and Billy Eichner. During its Cannes premiere on Friday, May 23, Plaza and her castmates received a six-minute standing ovation, with one audience member yelling out 'I love you Aubrey' in support of the star, according to Variety. 'More queer cinema all the time,' the film's writer, Tricia Cooke, declared during the applause. 'Honey Don't!' is set to hit theaters Aug. 22, making it Plaza's first feature since her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, committed suicide on Jan. 3. The actor is slowly easing back into the public eye as she heals from the loss. In February, she made a live television appearance during 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' wearing a pink tie-dyed T-shirt, a fashion statement many considered a tribute to both the hobby Baena took up during the pandemic and their wedding day outfits. A week prior, she starred in a Super Bowl commercial for Ritz Crackers, which was filmed last November. The couple had been together for more than a decade, but split months before Baena's death. He reportedly made 'concerning remarks' to Plaza that prompted her to ask a friend to 'perform a welfare check' on him, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. Plaza now seems ready to return to work. She recently signed on for a new drama, 'The Accompanist,' in which she'll play a rookie child-welfare agent. The film follows a new foster parent, played by Susan Sarandon, as she takes in a 9-year-old girl after she was nearly killed by her dementia-stricken grandfather.
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
How to watch 'Devil in the Ozarks,' documentary about Grant Hardin
How to watch 'Devil in the Ozarks,' documentary about Grant Hardin Show Caption Hide Caption Ex-Arkansas police chief imprisoned for murder escapes prison Grant Hardin, a former Gateway, Arkansas, police chief serving time for murder and rape, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25. unbranded - Newsworthy The chain of events that led to the conviction of former Arkansas police chief Grant Hardin, who recently broke out of prison, were documented in a made for television special. Hardin, 56, was serving a decades-long prison sentences for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and the 1997 rape of a schoolteacher when he escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, on May 25. Hardin was wearing a "makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement," according to a media advisory from the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Authorities across the state continue to look for Hardin, who "remains at large." About two years before his escape, Hardin and his crimes were the focus of "Devil in the Ozarks," a true crime documentary. Here's what to know about "Devil in the Ozarks," including how to watch the true crime documentary. Who is Grant Hardin? And what did he do? Grant Hardin was a former law enforcement officer (and later police chief) who served various municipalities in Arkansas, including in Fayetteville, Huntsville, Eureka Springs, Benton County and Gateway, where he served as police chief for a few months in 2016. Hardin was terminated from his posts in Fayetteville and Eureka Springs due to difficulties accepting constructive criticism, indecisiveness during stressful situations, excessive force and poor decisions made on the job, according to reports from local outlets. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years for the murder of Appleton, an employee with the town's water department and the then-mayor's brother-in-law, in 2017. Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman told investigators he was on the phone with Appleton when he was fatally shot. A witness found Appleton dead in his truck after they heard a loud band and saw a white car, parked behind Appleton's truck, take off. A DNA test conducted after Appleton's murder connected Hardin to the 1997 rape of a schoolteacher in Rogers, Arkansas. She was attacked at gunpoint after leaving her classroom to go to a restroom near the teacher's lounge, according to the affidavit. Hardin pled guilty to two counts of rape in 2019 and was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for each count consecutively. How to watch 'Devil in the Ozarks' The documentary can be streamed on Max or Hulu, through the "Live TV" or "Max" add-ons. Hulu offers an array of subscription options to "fit a variety of budgets and entertainment needs." A basic streaming plan (with ads) starts at $9.99 a month, however, the price may increase if you switch plans, choose to bundle, purchase add-ons, or add an extra member. What is 'Devil in the Ozarks' about? According to the documentary's IMDB page, "Devil in the Ozarks" is about a "brazen sexual assault shocks a small town, but goes unsolved for 20 years, until a nearby murder produces a suspect with matching DNA." Watch the 'Devil in the Ozarks' trailer We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Michael Loria and James Powel, USA TODAY
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Search intensifies for prison escapee known as 'Devil in the Ozarks'
Search intensifies for prison escapee known as 'Devil in the Ozarks' A former police chief who was convicted of a 2017 murder and a 1997 rape escaped from an Arkansas prison. Show Caption Hide Caption Ex-Arkansas police chief imprisoned for murder escapes prison Grant Hardin, a former Gateway, Arkansas, police chief serving time for murder and rape, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25. unbranded - Newsworthy Law enforcement officers in Arkansas were on the hunt May 28 for a former police chief who broke out of a state facility where he was imprisoned for rape and murder. Grant Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, on May 25, wearing a "makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement," according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Hardin, the former police chief in Gateway, Arkansas, was serving decadeslong prison sentences for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and the 1997 rape of a school teacher, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. The rape became the subject of a 2023 documentary titled "Devil in the Ozarks," according to the documentary's IMDB page. The Department of Corrections, Arkansas State Police and local police were working to find Hardin, officials said. Police K-9 units were also searching for Hardin, according to Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections. "Searches continued overnight but no new developments at this time," Champion told USA TODAY on May 28. Who is Grant Hardin? A closer look at the 'Devil in the Ozarks' What was Grant Hardin convicted of? In 2017, Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of Appleton, according to a plea agreement. Appleton's brother-in-law, who was the mayor of Gateway at the time, told investigators that he was on the phone with Appleton during the shooting, according to a probable cause affidavit. A witness told investigators he saw a white car parked behind Appleton's truck, heard a loud bang and saw the white car speed away. The witness checked the truck and found Appleton dead, according to the affidavit. A DNA test conducted following the murder conviction connected Hardin to the 1997 rape of a school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case. She was attacked at gunpoint after leaving her classroom to go to a restroom near the teacher's lounge, according to the affidavit. Hardin pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in 2019 and was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for each count consecutively, according to the plea agreement. What was Grant Hardin's record as a police officer? Before becoming the police chief in Gateway, Hardin worked at the Fayetteville Police Department from Aug. 6, 1990, to May 22, 1991, KHBS/KHOG reported. The department's chief of police at the time said he terminated Hardin because his efforts "fall short of the average probationary officer" and he had a "tendency to not accept constructive criticism along with indecisiveness under stressful situations." Hardin then moved to the Eureka Springs Police Department, where he worked from April 1993 to October 1996. The department's former police chief said Hardin made poor decisions on the job and used excessive force, according to KHBS/KHOG. In 2016, Hardin served as the chief of police for Gateway for about four months, the Associated Press reported. How did Grant Hardin escape? Hardin escaped from a facility located about 130 miles north of Little Rock, Arkansas, at 2:55 p.m. local time on May 25, according to the Department of Corrections. Champion said about 20 minutes passed before an officer discovered Hardin was missing. Hardin escaped through a secure entryway wearing "an ADC type uniform," the Stone County Sheriff's Office said. A photo shared by the sheriff's office shows Hardin pushing a loaded cart. Officials are investigating the events that led to the escape.
