Grant Hardin captured after a 12-day manhunt in the Ozarks.
A former police chief and convicted murderer known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” Grant Hardin, was apprehended on Friday afternoon, nearly two weeks after eluding authorities in Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Corrections confirmed the capture occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on Friday.
The 56-year-old Hardin was serving multiple lengthy sentences for his convictions of first-degree murder, as well as two counts of rape, when he escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25. Following his recapture, law enforcement transported him back to the North Central Unit for essential fingerprinting and medical evaluations. Subsequently, Hardin was relocated to the Varner SuperMax facility in Gould, located approximately 200 miles southeast of Calico Rock.
In 2017, Hardin plead guilty to first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of a local water department employee and received a 30-year prison sentence. His escape attracted widespread attention and triggered a substantial 12-day manhunt that involved collaboration among numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
On the day of his capture, Hardin was located near Moccasin Creek in Izard County by Arkansas police and the U.S. Border Patrol. Tracking dogs had detected his presence in the vicinity, leading to his discovery just 1.5 miles northwest of the prison from which he had escaped. As police officers approached him, Hardin reportedly attempted to flee but was subdued and taken into custody.
A spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system stated that Hardin likely had little energy remaining after his week and a half on the run, which contributed to his capture.
Hardin’s previous convictions also included a 1997 rape case involving an elementary school teacher, a crime that remained unresolved for two decades until DNA evidence pointed to him. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to the two counts of rape and received a 50-year sentence. This crime was notably featured in a documentary released in 2023, highlighting the impact of his actions on his victims and the local community.
The case continues to raise questions about prison safety and the protocols in place for high-risk inmates, particularly those with histories of violent behavior and criminal convictions. The Arkansas Department of Corrections is likely to review its escape prevention measures following this incident.
With News Wire Services.
