Latest news with #prisonEscape
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Grant Hardin, convicted murderer known as "Devil in the Ozarks," in custody nearly 2 weeks after Arkansas prison escape
Inmate known as "Devil of the Ozarks" escapes from prison dressed as officer A former police chief known as the "Devil in the Ozarks" has been recaptured nearly two weeks after his escape on May 25 from an Arkansas prison, where he was serving decadeslong sentences for murder and rape, the Izard County Sheriff's Office said. Grant Hardin escaped the Calico Rock prison by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform, officials have said. He had been held at the prison since 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder for fatally shooting 59-year-old James Appleton — a man he allegedly had multiple disputes with, according to the HBO documentary "Devil in the Ozarks." The fatal shooting happened following Hardin's brief time as the police chief of the small town of Gateway, Arkansas. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder. Hardin's DNA was then matched to the 1997 rape of a teacher at an elementary school in northwestern Arkansas. He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and was sentenced to 25 years in prison for each count, for a total sentence of 50 years. This is a developing story. It will be updated.
CNN
2 days ago
- CNN
Former Arkansas police chief who escaped from prison has been recaptured, sheriff's office says
Grant Hardin, the one-time Arkansas police chief who escaped from prison where he was serving sentences for murder and rape, has been recaptured, according to the Izard County Sheriff's Office. This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Convicted murderer known as "Devil in the Ozarks" has likely fled Arkansas after prison escape, marshals say
Manhunt continues after former police chief known as "Devil in the Ozarks" escapes prison The convicted murderer and former police chief known as the "Devil in the Ozarks" may have fled Arkansas after escaping from prison last month, investigators said in a recently released federal court filing. A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Little Rock against Grant Hardin was released this week. Authorities have said Hardin escaped the Calico Rock prison in Arkansas by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform. Hardin was previously the police chief of the small town of Gateway, Arkansas. Grant Hardin, a former Arkansas Police Chief currently serving 30 years for the murder of James Appleton KFSM In the complaint, Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert J. Hammons cites two previously publicized unconfirmed sightings of Hardin — one in central Arkansas and another in southern Missouri. "Based on this information, investigators believe Hardin has fled the state of Arkansas to avoid recapture," the filing said. "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." The complaint, first reported by The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, does not detail any other sightings of Hardin or evidence of him fleeing the state. Arkansas authorities have previously said they're focusing on north-central Arkansas and tips of sightings elsewhere so far have not panned out. Heavy rains have foiled efforts to use bloodhounds to follow Hardin's trail. The Arkansas Department of Corrections released a photo of how Hardin may look after several weeks on the run. In the edited image, Hardin has facial hair and appears slimmer than in his mugshot "due to the expected limited supply of food available," a department spokesperson told CBS News. New possible image of Grant Hardin released Tuesday by the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Arkansas Department of Corrections Hardin was serving multiple sentences after he pleaded guilty to both rape and murder, CBS News previously reported. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2017 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. While he was imprisoned in that case, police matched his DNA to samples taken from a 1997 rape case. Hardin pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in 2019, according to CBS affiliate KFSM, and was sentenced to 25 years for each count. The reward for information that leads to Hardin's capture has increased to $25,000, the Arkansas Department of Corrections said, with reward money coming from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at
Washington Post
3 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Marshals say 'Devil in the Ozarks' who escaped Arkansas prison has likely fled state
Investigators believe that a convicted murderer and former police chief known as the 'Devil in the Ozark s' has likely fled Arkansas after escaping from prison last month, a federal court filing released this week shows. A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Little Rock against Grant Hardin, who escaped prison last month, was released this week. Authorities have said Hardin escaped the Calico Rock prison in Arkansas by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform. In the complaint, Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert J. Hammons cites two previously publicized unconfirmed sightings of Hardin — one in central Arkansas and another in southern Missouri. 'Based on this information, investigators believe Hardin has fled the state of Arkansas to avoid recapture,' the filing said. '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.' The complaint, first reported by The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , does not detail any other sightings of Hardin or evidence of him fleeing the state. Arkansas authorities have previously said they're focusing on north-central Arkansas and tips of sightings elsewhere so far have not panned out. Hardin, a 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.' Hardin was housed in a maximum-security wing of the primarily medium security prison, formally known as the North Central Unit. Officials are investigating whether a job Hardin held in the kitchen helped in his escape, including whether it gave him access to materials he could have used to fashion his makeshift uniform. The Arkansas Department of Corrections this week released a new photo rendering of Hardin, depicting what he may look like now.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Marshals say 'Devil in the Ozarks' who escaped Arkansas prison has likely fled state
Investigators believe that a convicted murderer and former police chief known as the 'Devil in the Ozark s" has likely fled Arkansas after escaping from prison last month, a federal court filing released this week shows. A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Little Rock against Grant Hardin, who escaped prison last month, was released this week. Authorities have said Hardin escaped the Calico Rock prison in Arkansas by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform. In the complaint, Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert J. Hammons cites two previously publicized unconfirmed sightings of Hardin — one in central Arkansas and another in southern Missouri. 'Based on this information, investigators believe Hardin has fled the state of Arkansas to avoid recapture,' the filing said. '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.' The complaint, first reported by The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, does not detail any other sightings of Hardin or evidence of him fleeing the state. Arkansas authorities have previously said they're focusing on north-central Arkansas and tips of sightings elsewhere so far have not panned out. Hardin, a 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.' Hardin was housed in a maximum-security wing of the primarily medium security prison, formally known as the North Central Unit. Officials are investigating whether a job Hardin held in the kitchen helped in his escape, including whether it gave him access to materials he could have used to fashion his makeshift uniform. The Arkansas Department of Corrections this week released a new photo rendering of Hardin, depicting what he may look like now.
