Latest news with #Ozarks'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- 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
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Serving the Ozarks: NAMI of Southwest Missouri
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The NAMI Hope Center in downtown Springfield is providing a vital network of support for individuals seeking a safe and welcoming environment to address mental health challenges. The center offers free daily group therapy and serves as a community safe haven for anyone in need. This week, as part of our 'Serving the Ozarks' series, we highlight the impactful work of the local NAMI chapter and the story of one man who rebuilt his life with their help. 'We are about everybody just knowing that we're all in this together,' said Jess Pratt, Director of the NAMI Hope Center. The NAMI Hope Center is a crucial resource, particularly for the one in five adults who experience a mental health condition. Serving the Ozarks: On Angels' Wings 'People can drop in and receive services. Everything that we have here is free,' Pratt explained. 'We have our daily support groups, and each support group is led by someone that lives with that mental health condition.' The center operates with the help of dedicated volunteers who create a supportive foundation, enabling individuals to take steps toward stability in their lives. Pratt emphasized the importance of peer support, stating, 'Just knowing that you have people that get it and have been through the struggle, and they just know that they can come here and be free and be at peace. And this is their safe haven.' Randy Wayne Rossell first learned about NAMI while he was unsheltered. 'We ended up getting off the street and into our own place,' Rossell said. 'And so every now and then, we come up here, do a little volunteering, come to classes.' NAMI's free services were instrumental in helping Rossell and his girlfriend rebuild their lives. 'They've done everything from helping us filling out paperwork to helping us with argument stuff,' Rossell said. 'They'll help you with anything to help you charge your stuff, help you get bus passes to get to jobs. I mean, they're a godsend.' Serving the Ozarks: Dogwood Ranch This non-profit organization is serving the Ozarks by offering peer support and tackling various issues without the burden of stigma. 'The trials, the trauma, but yet still the happy side of it too,' Pratt reflected. 'I've seen families reunited that haven't been able to talk to each other in a very long time. We've been able to make that happen. I've seen so much, and it's just so amazing and so powerful.' Rossell added, 'It's amazing what they can do for people if you just let them.' You do not need a diagnosed mental health condition to access NAMI's services, and relatives and caregivers are also welcome to receive free support. For more information on how to get involved or access services, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man dies in Lincoln County highway crash
LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. – One man has died and another is hurt after an early-morning crash Tuesday in rural Lincoln County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. MSHP reports that a 63-year-old man from Wright City, Missouri, died in the crash, while an 18-year-old driver from Winfield, Missouri, suffered serious injuries. The crash involved two drivers in two vehicles. It occurred around 7 a.m. Tuesday on Missouri Route J near Forest Lake Drive. 'Devil in the Ozarks' escapes north Arkansas prison According to an MSHP crash report, the 18-year-old driver veered off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected and began to skid. His vehicle crossed a centerline and struck a second vehicle, driven by the 63-year-old man. Investigators say the 63-year-old man's vehicle overturned off the right side of the roadway, while the 18-year-old driver was ejected from his vehicle upon impact. Both drivers were rushed to hospitals after the crash. The 63-year-old driver later died from injuries in the crash. MSHP Troop C, which covers much of the St. Louis region, is investigating the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Contractors join forces to tackle tornado debris
ST. LOUIS – Since the devastating tornado struck, some of the biggest names in construction have come together to clean up storm debris and move forward in the recovery. Enter the Greater St. Louis Tornado Recovery Effort. 'There's a lot going on,' Rick Moeckel, Clayco executive vice president, said. 'This right here is the path. Over 10,000 structures were impacted; 80% of those were inhabited. You had debris everywhere. So, the first thing we started with was debris removal.' The list is long; from Alberici Constructors, Fred Weber, Spire, McCarthy, Goodwin Brothers, Paric, TW Constructors, Cass, Musick, Paradigm, Hillsdale, Tarlton, Keeley, Arco, Millstone Weber, all gathering in the Urban League parking lot and heading out each day into the community since Saturday, May 17. 'Devil in the Ozarks' escapes north Arkansas prison 'Maybe you had 10 pieces of equipment and 10 people,' Moeckel said. 'By Thursday, that number grew and grew, and we were at 150 people Thursday and Friday, with 40 pieces of equipment and 25 trucks and really making a dent.' A Greater Ville resident said they need quality contractors and bricklayers to fix what can be fixed and rebuild what can't, so residents can move on emotionally. 'The thing that I've been most impressed with is that everyone is just ready to jump in,' Moeckel said. 'We're working on figuring this thing out and it's been almost seamless in a way. It's been kind of this one team, one love for the city push.' Tornado Recovery Info 🌪️ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Seven charged for tampering, wire theft in tornado zone
ST. LOUIS – Five men and two women have been charged with tampering or stealing wiring in neighborhoods devastated by the May 16 St. Louis tornado. According to probable cause statements from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the crimes took place in three different neighborhoods: May 22: 4400 block of Natural Bridge Avenue (Penrose) May 23: 1300 block of North Euclid Avenue (Fountain Park) May 23: 5100 Kensington Avenue (Academy/Sherman Park) In the first incident, police responded to a reported theft near Natural Bridge and San Francisco avenues. Officers arrived to find Drevon Rawson, 23; Robert Maynard, 48; and Brandy Markwick, 41, placing large amounts of wire in the back of their truck. Maynard allegedly told police that the security guard for Save A Lot knew the suspects and allowed them to be on the lot. The security guard told police she saw the trio and told them they were not allowed to be on the parking lot and that they needed to leave. The trio was then taken into custody. In the second theft, police were sent to an alleyway near N. Euclid and found Nicholas Allen, 37, and Daniel Garber, 38, attempting to load wire onto the bed of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup. The wire belonged to Ameren and AT&T. Police said the wires were still attached to an Ameren utility pole. Both Allen and Garber were on probation/parole, and Garber had active arrest warrants in Jefferson County and Sunset Hills, Missouri. 'Devil in the Ozarks' escapes north Arkansas prison Lastly, police received a call of two people cutting wire from a transported in an alley behind Kensington Avenue. Police said they discovered Ashley J. Kirkover, 29, and Michael Thorton, 44, had placed the transporter on the floor of their van. The pair admitted they'd cut the transporter down in order to scrap it. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office charged Markwick, Maynard, and Rawson with stealing – $750 or more and first-degree trespassing. All three are jailed without bond. Maynard and Rawson made their initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon. Allen and Garber were each charged with two counts of first-degree tampering with service of a utility or institution and two counts of stealing – $750 or more. They're being held without bond. Both suspects made their first court appearances on Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors charged Kirkover and Thornton, both residents of Granite City, Illinois, with one count of first-degree tampering with service of a utility or institution. They've been jailed without bond and appeared in court Tuesday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
