A convict dubbed the “Devil in the Ozarks” has been recaptured by law enforcement officials just 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) from the Arkansas prison he dared to flee. The formidable pursuit lasted nearly two weeks through the untamed mountains of northern Arkansas, authorities confirmed Friday.
Grant Hardin, once a police chief in Gateway, a modest town nestled near the Arkansas-Missouri divide, was doing time on murder and rape charges. His rise to infamy even inspired a TV documentary titled, “Devil in the Ozarks.”
Upon sighting officers on Friday afternoon, Hardin made a fleeting attempt to escape but was swiftly brought down, stated Rand Champion, a representative of the Arkansas prison system. “He’d been evading capture for a week and a half and likely ran out of steam,” Champion noted.
Hardin’s identity was verified via fingerprint analysis, as reported by the Izard County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook. No injuries were noted, but he will undergo examinations for dehydration and other potential health concerns.
Investigators are eager to conduct their inquiry with Hardin, as illustrated by Champion, who managed to capture an image on his cellphone of Hardin being escorted by officers. The former chief remained silent during this process.
The Escape and Recapture
Hardin, imprisoned at Calico Rock since 2017 for his guilty plea to first-degree murder from a deadly shooting incident, executed a daring escape by mimicking a corrections officer’s appearance and demeanor, a court document revealed. A gate was unlocked for him by a prison officer, unknowingly facilitating his exit.
Champion admitted that the failure to verify Hardin’s identity was a “lapse” under investigation. Since his escape on May 25, relentless efforts involving bloodhounds, mounted officers, drones, and helicopters have been deployed in pursuit of Hardin.
Early into the search, a bloodhound picked up but quickly lost Hardin’s scent due to inclement weather conditions, Champion pointed out. The trail was tracked for less than a quarter mile before it went cold, potentially leading Hardin in any direction.
“That was incredibly frustrating, as the rain thwarted our tracking progress,” Champion lamented.
Recently, a specialized U.S. Border Patrol team joined the manhunt, bringing “advanced search capabilities and operational support,” according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This elite unit navigated the challenging terrain, interspersed with rugged landscapes, dense forests, and a vast network of caves.
Photos circulating on Facebook, shared by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, depicted Hardin shirtless, covered in mud, and lying prone with his hands restrained. The post declared that he was “turned over to Arkansas State Police unharmed.”
However, an agency spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment on this post as of Friday night.
Hardin’s Crimes
Back in 2017, Hardin confessed to first-degree murder concerning the death of 59-year-old James Appleton. Appleton was employed by the Gateway water department when Hardin shot him in the head on February 23, near Garfield. Authorities discovered Appleton’s lifeless body inside a vehicle, leading to Hardin’s 30-year prison sentence.
Additionally, DNA evidence linked Hardin to the 1997 rape of a teacher at a Rogers elementary school, earning him a 50-year sentence for that heinous act.
Upon word of Hardin’s capture, Cheryl Tillman, Appleton’s sister and the current Mayor of Gateway, was filled with relief as she attended a flea market with family members in Ozark, Missouri. “We can finally let go of the fear of someone lurking behind us,” Tillman expressed, commending the officers who aided in apprehending Hardin.
Hardin’s Checkered Past in Law Enforcement
Though Hardin’s tenure as police chief in Gateway was brief, spanning only four months, he held positions in multiple police departments throughout northwest Arkansas, his police records show.
His initial steps as a police officer, over 35 years ago in Fayetteville, were marred by immediate struggles, leading to his dismissal. Despite this, Hardin continuously found roles in law enforcement across northwest Arkansas over the decades.
Following a resigning stint at the Huntsville Police Department with no recorded reason, he joined the Eureka Springs Police Department from 1993 to 1996. Former Chief Earl Hyatt noted that Hardin resigned under the pressure of being fired due to incidents of excessive force.
“He shouldn’t have ever been an officer,” Hyatt remarked in a TV interview.
By 2016, when Hardin held the chief position in Gateway, his questionable conduct was noted in the “Devil in the Ozarks” documentary, with instances of needless pursuits as recalled by Tillman.