Former police chief and convicted killer, Grant Hardin, escaped from a medium-security prison, the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, on Sunday. Hardin, notoriously known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” was serving a lengthy sentence for murder and rape. The FBI has announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information that could lead to Hardin’s apprehension.
According to reliable sources, Hardin absconded from the prison by impersonating a corrections officer, both in dress and manner. The prison officer, believing Hardin to be a fellow officer, opened a secure gate, facilitating his escape. The specifics of how Hardin obtained or created the uniform remain under investigation. Video surveillance revealed that Hardin’s escape occurred around 2:55 p.m. on Sunday.
This development follows earlier reports that ten men escaped a New Orleans jail by creating a hole behind a toilet. Eight of these fugitives have since been apprehended. However, the circumstances surrounding Hardin’s escape, particularly how he left the prison and whether he had any assistance, remain unclear. The Arkansas Department of Corrections is investigating, focusing on Hardin’s prison kitchen job and its potential role in the escape.
We should note that Hardin started serving his prison sentence at Calico Rock in 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of James Appleton. His DNA, entered into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, matched a 1997 rape case, leading to an additional 50-year sentence.
Hardin’s history includes a short tenure as the police chief of Gateway, a small town of about 450 people, in 2016. His time in office was marked by controversy, as detailed in the 2023 HBO documentary “Devil in the Ozarks,” which revealed a critical confrontation between Hardin and Appleton.
The evidence suggests that Hardin’s escape from prison has generated high anxiety in the community. Mayor of Gateway, Cheryl Tillman, who is also Appleton’s sister, expressed a mix of shock and fear upon learning of Hardin’s escape.
The search for Hardin is ongoing, with authorities employing canines, drones, and helicopters to navigate the rocky northern Arkansas terrain. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the search area continues to expand with each passing day.
It’s important to remember that this is a developing story, and there are still unanswered questions. However, we trust in our democratic institutions and processes to ensure justice is served.
