MANHUNT UNDERWAY | The “Devil in the Ozarks” Escapes Maximum-Security Prison
A massive manhunt is underway across multiple states after Grant Hardin, a former police chief once entrusted with upholding the law, escaped custody from a maximum-security prison in Calico Rock, Arkansas. Branded by some as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” Hardin was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape when he vanished last month in a stunning breach of security.
Hardin, formerly the chief of police in Gateway, a small town near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was incarcerated at the North Central Unit, a facility primarily classified as medium security but with designated maximum-security areas. Hardin was housed in one of those high-risk wings due to the severity of his crimes.
Authorities now believe Hardin managed to fabricate a law enforcement-style uniform, which allowed him to deceive guards and evade detection during his escape. Investigators are looking into whether his prison kitchen job played a role in the escape—potentially giving him access to materials used to construct his makeshift disguise.
What is especially concerning to law enforcement is Hardin’s intimate knowledge of the Ozark Mountains, where he once patrolled as an officer. He is believed to have fled Arkansas and may be hiding in remote caves or rugged terrain in the region. His survival skills, combined with a deep familiarity with the backwoods and trails of the Ozarks, make tracking him a complex and dangerous task.
As of now, there have been no confirmed sightings, though law enforcement across Arkansas, Missouri, and surrounding states are on high alert. A digital rendering of what Hardin may currently look like has been released to the public to aid in his capture. Authorities are urging anyone who sees a person matching his appearance to not approach him, as he is considered armed, dangerous, and unpredictable.
The U.S. Marshals Service, state police, and local sheriff’s offices are coordinating an extensive manhunt, which now includes the use of aerial surveillance, tracking dogs, and special operations teams trained in remote terrain search tactics.
Hardin’s escape has sparked outrage and fear in the communities where his crimes were originally committed, and questions are mounting over how such a high-risk inmate could escape from a facility that should have been equipped to contain him.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Grant Hardin is urged to contact law enforcement immediately. A reward may be offered for information leading to his capture.
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