Arkansas authorities release photo rendering of ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ as manhunt continues
- Grant Hardin, 56, a former police chief convicted of murder, escaped from the North Central Unit facility located in Calico Rock, Arkansas, on May 25, 2025.
- Hardin's escape resulted from wearing a disguise resembling a corrections uniform and tricking an officer to open a gate, exploiting security weaknesses tied to his law enforcement background.
- In 2017, Hardin admitted his involvement in the first-degree murder of city employee James Appleton and later acknowledged rape charges stemming from 1997, resulting in substantial prison sentences.
- Authorities released a photo rendering of Hardin, known as the "Devil in the Ozarks," and legislators are reviewing security lapses after state corrections officials vowed heightened manhunt efforts in north-central Arkansas.
- Family and officials expressed shock and concern over public safety, with Benton County Prosecutor Nathan Smith calling Hardin a "sociopath" who betrayed his community and victims.
46 Articles
46 Articles
Dangerous 'Devil in the Ozarks' former police chief on the run as expert warns outdoorsmen to stay away
Former police chief Grant Hardin, nicknamed 'Devil in the Ozarks' and convicted of murder and rape, remains at large after escaping from an Arkansas prison.


'Devil in the Ozarks' who escaped Arkansas prison has likely fled state, marshals say
A new federal court filing shows that investigators believe the convicted murderer and rapist known as the “Devil in the Ozarks” has likely fled Arkansas after escaping prison last month. A deputy U.S. marshal in a criminal complaint released this…
Escaped ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ likely fled Arkansas: Authorities
Authorities said they think a man known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” a former police chief convicted on murder and rape charges, has fled the state of Arkansas after escaping prison last month. Investigators believe Grant Hardin, the ex-police chief in the town of Gateway, Ark., fled Calico Rock prison in Izard County, Ark.,…


South Texas BORTAC team helping search for escaped inmate
McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- The Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) from the Rio Grande Valley Sector is heading to Arkansas to help with the manhunt for an escaped inmate, the agency announced Thursday. Jail photo of Arkansas inmate Grant Hardin, as seen on Oct. 18, 2024. (Photo Courtesy Arkansas Department of Corrections) The BORTAC team's deployment will help state and local law enforcement agencies who are looking for convicted murde…
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