LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After an extensive manhunt lasting nearly two weeks, authorities announced on Friday the capture of former police chief and convicted murderer Grant Hardin, known as the “Devil in the Ozarks.” Hardin was found 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of the northern Arkansas prison he had escaped from.
Grant Hardin, once the police chief in Gateway, a small town near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving long-term sentences for murder and rape. His criminal history later became the subject of a TV documentary, “Devil in the Ozarks.” As officers approached, Hardin made a brief attempt to flee but was swiftly apprehended, according to Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system. “After being on the run for a week and a half, he was likely exhausted,” Champion noted.
The Izard County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Hardin’s identity through fingerprint analysis in a Facebook post. Although there were no signs of injury, Hardin will undergo checks for dehydration and other potential health issues.
Investigators are eager to question Hardin, Champion stated, having captured a photo of him being escorted by officers using his cellphone. During his capture, Hardin remained silent. Since 2017, Hardin has been incarcerated at the Calico Rock prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder for a fatal shooting. His escape was facilitated by disguising himself as a corrections officer, allowing him to exit through a secure gate, as per court documents. Champion criticized the failure to verify Hardin’s identity as a “lapse” currently under investigation.
Since Hardin’s escape on May 25, search efforts have included bloodhounds, horseback officers, drones, and helicopters. Recently, a specialized U.S. Border Patrol team joined the search, federal officials revealed. Known as BORTAC, the team provided “advanced search capabilities and operational support,” and is skilled in complex terrains, the agency explained. The rocky and forested Ozark Mountains, with their intricate cave networks, posed significant challenges.
In 2017, Hardin admitted to the first-degree murder of James Appleton, 59, who worked for the Gateway water department and was shot in the head on February 23, 2017, near Garfield. Appleton’s body was discovered in a car, leading to Hardin’s 30-year prison sentence. Additionally, Hardin’s DNA linked him to a 1997 rape case involving an elementary school teacher in Rogers, north of Fayetteville, resulting in a 50-year sentence.
Cheryl Tillman, Appleton’s sister and mayor of Gateway, learned of Hardin’s capture while at a flea market in Ozark, Missouri, with her family. She expressed relief at the news, describing it as a “big sigh of relief” for her family. “We can now live without constantly looking over our shoulders,” Tillman said, grateful to the officers involved in Hardin’s capture.