Escaped Arkansas Prisoner, Nicknamed "Devil in the Ozarks," Possibly Evaded Authorities
The infamous criminal and ex-cop, infamously tagged as the "Devil in the Ozarks," reportedly made a break for it from an Arkansas prison last month, according to a federal court filing unveiled this week. Grant Hardin, the suspect in question, was famously the head cop in the small Arkansas town of Gateway.
U.S. Marshal Robert J. Hammons detailed two reported encounters with Hardin in a court document submitted to the Little Rock federal court. Allegedly, authorities have spotted the fugitive in central Arkansas and southern Missouri, raising speculation that Hardin has skipped the state to evade capture.
The court filing states, "Based on this info, investigators believe Hardin has left Arkansas to avoid recapture. He's familiar with the Ozark Mountain region, where he's likely hiding in caves or rugged terrain." The filing, initially reported by The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, does not mention any additional sightings or evidence related to Hardin's flight.
Investigators were hopeful about using bloodhounds to track Hardin, yet heavy rains have hampered their efforts. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the U.S. Border Patrol recently deployed a special operations team to aid in the manhunt.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections shared an image of what Hardin might look like after weeks on the run. The image features a slimmer Hardin with facial hair, different from his mugshot, due to limited food resources during his escape, according to a department spokesperson.
Hardin confessed to both rape and murder and was serving multiple sentences. He admitted to first-degree murder in 2017 and received a 30-year prison term. Concurrently, police matched his DNA to evidence from a 1997 rape case, for which he pleaded guilty in 2019. The sentence for these crimes linked to KFSM totaled 25 years each.
A reward of $25,000 has been offered for information leading to Hardin's capture, with available funds coming from the FBI and U.S. Marshals. Anyone with valuable information is requested to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at www.tips.fbi.gov.
- Amidst the ongoing manhunt for the fugitive Grant Hardin, also known as the "Devil in the Ozarks," authorities are seeking information that could lead to his capture in the realm of war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news.
- As the U.S. Border Patrol joins the manhunt and a reward of $25,000 is offered, the legal system – the law – plays a crucial role in apprehending Hardin, who is wanted for multiple crimes including rape and murder.
- Suspicions that Hardin may have fled to evade capture following his prison break have sparked intense media coverage, most notably in the domain of news like The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, creating a high-stakes political environment where the safety of citizens is a priority.
