Latest news with #intheOzarks
Epoch Times
a day ago
- Epoch Times
Caves, Other Hideouts in Mountains Are Part of Hunt for Fugitive Known as ‘Devil in the Ozarks'
There are plenty of hideouts in the rugged terrain of the Ozark Mountains, from abandoned cabins and campsites in vast forests where searchers are hunting for an ex-lawman known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks.' Others are not only off the grid but beneath it, in the hundreds of caves that lead to vast subterranean spaces.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- 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
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
Search for Escaped Former Police Chief Escalates as FBI Offers $10,000 Reward
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of Grant Hardin, a former police chief who escaped from an Arkansas prison on Sunday. The Department of Justice said it was supporting Arkansas authorities in the search for Hardin, who was convicted of first-degree murder and rape, after he fled the North Central Unit prison near Calico Rock. The Context In October 2017, Grant Matthew Hardin pleaded guilty to a first-degree murder charge in connection with the shooting of James Appleton, who was found dead inside his car. He received a 30-year sentence. The former police chief was also sentenced to 50 years for the rape of an Arkansas elementary school teacher in 1997. His crimes earned him the nickname "Devil in the Ozarks" in a 2023 documentary. What To Know In an update on the search, which began on Sunday, authorities in Arkansas said the FBI had issued a $10,000 reward for anyone who had information that could lead to Hardin's arrest. "This morning, the FBI, Department of Corrections, Arkansas State Police, and Department of Justice have announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of escaped inmate Grant Matthew Hardin," Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, told Newsweek. "Hardin escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on Sunday, May 25. An arrest warrant was issued for Hardin on May 26 by the Circuit Court of Izard County after he was charged with second-degree escape," Champion continued. Anyone with information concerning Hardin should "contact the FBI's toll-free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). You may also contact your local FBI office, local law enforcement, or submit tips online at A poster of Grant Matthew Hardin, who escaped from prison in Arkansas on May 25. A poster of Grant Matthew Hardin, who escaped from prison in Arkansas on May 25. FBI Hardin escaped from prison by wearing clothing that made him look like a member of staff rather than a prisoner, an investigation of his escape found. Hardin has since been charged with second-degree escape, which carries a minimum jail sentence of nine months. Hardin previously served as the police chief of Gateway, a city to the north of Fayetteville on the state line with Missouri. Locals fear that his knowledge of the area means authorities may find it harder to locate him. Officials said the cave system in the Ozark Mountains was a point of focus for the search effort. Arkansas residents described Hardin as "very, very smart" and someone who "knows where the caves are" in the region. What People Are Saying Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, said: "That's one of the challenges of this area—there are a lot of places to hide and take shelter, a lot of abandoned sheds, and there are a lot of caves in this area, so that's been a priority for the search team." In its initial statement about Grant Hardin's escape, the Department of Corrections said: "On Sunday, May 25, at approximately 3:40 p.m., inmate Grant Hardin, escaped from the North Central Unit. Anyone with information about inmate Hardin's whereabouts should contact local law enforcement immediately. The Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction are working with local, state and federal law enforcement to follow leads. "Hardin has been at the North Central Unit since 2017, serving a 30-year sentence for first degree murder, as well as an additional sentence for rape. Hardin was the former police chief for the city of Gateway with a background in law enforcement." What Happens Next Anyone with information on Hardin's movements is encouraged to contact the FBI.
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
What to know about 'Devil in the Ozarks', Arkansas prison escape, as search enters 5th day
What to know about 'Devil in the Ozarks', Arkansas prison escape, as search enters 5th day 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 search for ex-Arkansas police chief and convicted murderer Grant Hardin, known as the "Devil in the Ozarks," entered its fifth day after he disguised himself as a corrections officer and slipped away from state prison, authorities said. Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit on May 25 while wearing a "makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement," the Arkansas Department of Corrections said. He was convicted of the 2017 murder of James Appleton and the 1997 rape of a school teacher. Hardin served as police chief in Gateway, Arkansas, and had previous law enforcement experience, officials said. His case was put in the spotlight with the 2023 documentary "Devil in the Ozarks." The search for Hardin includes local, state and federal authorities, but has been hampered by weather that prevented the use of drones and helicopters, corrections department spokesperson Rand Champion said at a May 28 news conference. The prison escape comes as authorities in Louisiana are also searching for escaped inmates. Two of 10 inmates who escaped a New Orleans jail on May 16 by ripping a toilet away from a wall and climbing through a hole are still on the run. More: Arkansas mayor, murder victim's sister reacts to Grant Hardin's escape How did the Arkansas prisoner escape? Hardin escaped at about 2:55 p.m. on May 25, the Arkansas Department of Corrections said in a news release. He was wearing a makeshift outfit that looked like one worn by corrections officers, officials said. "Inmate Hardin impersonated a corrections officer in dress and manner causing the Corrections Officer operating a secure gate to open the gate and allow Inmate Hardin to walk away from the North Central Unit," Special Agent Dennis Simons of the Izard County Sheriff's Office wrote in an arrest affidavit. Like true crime? Check out Witness, a library of true crime stories Officials haven't given further details about how he obtained the clothing or made it as far as the gate. A photo from surveillance footage shows Hardin wearing the outfit and pushing a loaded cart as he escaped. Champion said Hardin was gone for about 20 minutes when an officer noticed he was missing. What were Grant Hardin's crimes? Who is James Appleton? Hardin pleaded guilty to the Feb. 23, 2017 murder of James Appleton. Appleton's brother-in-law and the mayor of Gateway at the time, Andrew Tillman, told police he was on the phone with Appleton while Appleton was driving his truck after filing a report with the sheriff's office. Appleton worked for the local water department and was reporting vandalization of a water tower. Appleton pulled over so he wouldn't lose signal while on the phone with Tillman, Tillman told investigators. Tillman heard what sounded like a car door slamming shut, then nothing. A witness also told police they saw someone pulled over behind the truck in a car and heard a gunshot, and identified the driver as Hardin. Appleton was found dead in his truck with a gunshot to the side of his head and face. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder. After his conviction, his DNA was matched with that from an unsolved rape case in 1997, in which a teacher said she was attacked while at school by a man who held her at gunpoint, according to court records. Hardin pleaded guilty to the rape and was given a 25-year sentence in 2019. Hardin was the chief of police in Gateway for about four months in 2016, the Associated Press reported. He was also terminated from roles at other police departments, local outlets have reported. Where can I watch 'Devil in the Ozarks?' The documentary "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," its IMDB page says. "Two years ago, we made a documentary about Hardin's horrific crimes with Max/Investigation Discovery," Ari Mark, co-founder of AMPLE Entertainment, an award-winning production company, said in a statement. "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." "Devil in the Ozarks" can be streamed on Max or Hulu, through the "Live TV" or "Max" add-ons. You can also watch it on the Investigation Discovery (ID) GO app by inputting your TV provider credentials. More on how to watch: Documentary about Grant Hardin details rape case Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Michael Loria, James Powell, Jorge L. Ortiz and Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Authorities looking at whether kitchen job played role in 'Devil in the Ozarks' prison escape
Arkansas authorities are looking at whether a job in the prison kitchen played a role in the escape of a convicted former police chief known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks.' Grant Hardin, 56, was housed in a maximum-security wing of the Calico Rock prison from which he escaped on Sunday by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform, Arkansas Department of Corrections spokesperson Rand Champion told The Associated Press Thursday. But Hardin also held a job in the kitchen of the medium-security facility. 'His job assignment was in the kitchen, so just looking to see if that played a part in it as well,' Champion said. Hardin, the former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. He was the subject of the TV documentary 'Devil in the Ozarks.' Local, state and federal law enforcement continued their search for Hardin on Thursday, and the FBI on announced Thursday it was offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. Champion said officials remained confident that Hardin was in the north-central Arkansas area. Officials have said there are plenty of hideouts in the Ozarks Mountains area, from caves to campsites. The department late Wednesday said search teams also responded to Faulkner County in the central Arkansas area after receiving a tip. Champion did not immediately know how many other inmates were housed in the prison's maximum-security wing. Hardin's assignment to the prison, formally known as the North Central Unit, has drawn questions from legislators in the area and family members of the former chief's victims. Hardin received culinary training at some point during his incarceration, said Cheryl Tillman, whose brother James Appleton was shot to death by Hardin in 2017. Tillman said she was aware that Hardin had been working in the kitchen at the Calico Rock prison, and questioned why he would be allowed to do so. 'It sounds like to me that he was given free range down there,' she said in an interview this week. Now that he's free, 'it makes it uneasy for all of us, the whole family,' she said.
