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LITTLE ROCK, AR — A manhunt is intensifying across state lines for a convicted murderer and former police chief known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” following his dramatic escape from an Arkansas prison last month. Federal authorities now believe Grant Hardin has likely fled the state, possibly seeking refuge in the isolated and rugged terrain of the Ozark Mountains.
According to a federal criminal complaint unsealed this week in Little Rock, Hardin, who was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape, escaped from the Calico Rock prison after disguising himself in what appeared to be a law enforcement uniform. Investigators suspect the outfit may have been assembled using materials accessed through his prison kitchen job—an aspect now under review by the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert J. Hammons, in the complaint, referenced two unconfirmed sightings of Hardin: one in central Arkansas and another across the border in southern Missouri. While neither has been verified, authorities believe Hardin may be leveraging his deep familiarity with the Ozark region to evade capture—potentially hiding in caves or remote areas he knows well.
Hardin, once the police chief of the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, became infamous for his crimes and later for his appearance in the true-crime documentary “Devil in the Ozarks.”
He was being held in a maximum-security section of the North Central Unit, a facility primarily designed for medium-security inmates. His escape has prompted a broader investigation into internal security and prison procedures.
Despite earlier concentration on north-central Arkansas, investigators have widened their search, driven by the assumption that Hardin has crossed state lines. The U.S. Marshals Service and Arkansas authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any potential sightings.
A new age-progressed photo rendering of Hardin has been released in an effort to assist with identification. Authorities warn that he should be considered dangerous and should not be approached under any circumstances.
Anyone with information is urged to contact local law enforcement or the U.S. Marshals Service immediately.
