The search for Arkansas prison escapee Grant Hardin – the so-called ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ killer – is in its second week amid mountainous, rough terrain.
Hardin, a 56-year-old former police chief, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, May 25, where he was serving time for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and the 1997 rape of a school teacher, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
“Inmate Hardin impersonated a corrections officer in dress and manner causing the Corrections Officer operating a secure gate to open the gate and allow Inmate Hardin to walk away from the North Central Unit,” Special Agent Dennis Simons of the Izard County Sheriff’s Office wrote in an arrest affidavit.
The subject of the 2023 documentary “Devil in the Ozarks” remains at large as the FBI and U.S. Marshall’s Service have a combined $25,000 reward for information leading to Hardin’s capture.
A handout photo of Arkansas prison escapee Grant Hardin altered to reflect what officials believe he may look like more than a week after escaping from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, May 25.
Rand Champion, director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, told NewsNation June 3 that the mountainous terrain of the Ozarks has made the search difficult.
“We’ve got to try and access some pretty hard-to-get-to places. And so being able to get into there has caused some challenges,” Champion told the network.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections released a photo Tuesday depicting “what officials feel he would look similar to after a week on the run,” Champion said in an email to USA TODAY Tuesday night. He added that the mugshot was altered to represent a week’s worth of hair growth and to make Hardin slimmer due to limited food.
Champion said that there are no new developments as of Tuesday night, though tips are being investigated.
Here is a timeline of what we know about Grant Hardin.
Grant Hardin timeline
Reporting from local outlets and court records show:
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August 6, 1990: Hardin is hired by the Fayetteville Police Department
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5News reported that department records say he had not improved in “control of conflict” skills during his training
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May 22, 1991: Hardin is fired by the Fayetteville Police Department
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“Your Field Training Officers, supervisors, and I have observed your performance and determined your efforts fall short of the average probationary officer,” A letter, published by 5News, from then chief Richard Watson said. “Your tendency not to accept constructive criticism along with indecisiveness under stressful situations played a major role in my decision.”
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November 1, 1991: Hardin is hired by the Huntsville Police Department
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June 2, 1992: Hardin leaves the Huntsville Police Department
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July 20, 1993: Hardin is hired by the Eureka Springs Police Department
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October 4, 1996: Hardin is fired by the Eureka Springs Police Department
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November 9, 1997: Hardin assaults a school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas
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She was attacked at gunpoint after leaving her classroom for a restroom off of the teacher’s lounge, according to the affidavit.
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2009: Hardin begins his first term as Benton County District 1 Constable, according to 5News
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2013: Hardin begins his second term as constable, according to 5News
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January 2016: Hardin is hired to be the police chief in Gateway, Arkansas
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November 21, 2016: Hardin is hired at the Northwest Arkansas Community Correction Center in Fayetteville, according to KHBS/KHOG. He would work there until his arrest
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February 23, 2017: Hardin shoots James Appleton
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Appleton’s brother-in-law, Andrew Tillman, told Benton County Sheriff’s investigators that he was on the phone with Appleton when he was shot, according to a probable cause affidavit. Tillman was the mayor of Gateway, Arkansas when the shooting occurred.
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A witness told investigators that he saw a white car parked behind Appleton’s truck, heard a loud bang and saw the white car speed off. The witness then turned around to check on the truck only to discover Appleton dead, according to the affidavit.
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February 13, 2019: Hardin pleads guilty to two counts of rape and is sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for each count consecutively
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2023: The documentary “Devil in the Ozarks” is released
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“Even just seeing the guy’s face on the news again, I shuddered. I can only imagine what the victims and the victims’ families felt,” Ari Mark, co-founder of AMPLE Entertainment and executive producer of the documentary told USA TODAY
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Contributing: Jeanine Santucci – USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Devil in the Ozarks killer still a fugitive. Why’s he so hard to find?
