Guard let ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ killer and rapist waltz out of prison, prompting desperate search
Police in Arkansas are on high alert as they search the Ozark Mountains for fugitive Grant Hardin, also known as the “Devil in the Ozarks.” Hardin, a convicted killer and rapist, managed to escape from the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock by disguising himself as a law enforcement officer and walking out of the facility unnoticed.
The escape has prompted a massive manhunt in the area, with authorities focusing on the vast forested region that is filled with caves, abandoned cabins, and campsites that Hardin is familiar with. The Arkansas Department of Corrections is investigating the security lapse that allowed Hardin to leave the prison undetected.
Hardin, who was the subject of a TV documentary called “Devil in the Ozarks,” is considered extremely dangerous. He was serving a 30-year sentence for the murder of James Appleton, a Gateway water department employee. Appleton was shot in the back of the head by Hardin in 2017.
Authorities are using canine units, drones, and helicopters in the search for Hardin, as they comb through the rugged terrain of the Ozark Mountains. With nearly 2,000 documented caves in northern Arkansas, the search for the fugitive is proving to be a challenging task.
Cheryl Tillman, the sister of James Appleton and the current mayor of Gateway, expressed her distress upon learning of Hardin’s escape. She described Hardin as an evil man with a history of criminal behavior and misconduct as a former police chief.
While serving his sentence for Appleton’s murder, DNA evidence linked Hardin to a 1997 rape case where he sexually assaulted an elementary school teacher at gunpoint. He pleaded guilty to rape and kidnapping in 2018, receiving an additional 50-year sentence.
The community is on edge as they fear Hardin may return to Gateway to commit more crimes. Authorities are urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward as the manhunt for the “Devil in the Ozarks” continues.
