Manhunt Intensifies for 'Devil in Ozarks' After Arkansas Prison Escape

Grant Hardin, the former police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, known as the "Devil in the Ozarks," escaped from the North Central Unit prison by impersonating a corrections officer and walking out through a gate opened by a guard. Hardin was serving a combined 80-year sentence for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and a 1997 rape, crimes that were the subject of a 2023 HBO documentary. His escape involved wearing a makeshift uniform not matching any prison-issued clothing, raising questions about how he obtained or manufactured it. Authorities have launched an extensive manhunt using drones, helicopters, canine units, and ground teams to search the rugged Ozark Mountains terrain, which complicates efforts. Local law enforcement urge residents to stay indoors and remain vigilant as the search continues with no new developments reported. The prison's decision to house Hardin in a medium-security facility is under scrutiny in light of the breach.