Grant Hardin, the former Arkansas police chief infamously known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” was captured on June 6, 2025, ending a nearly two-week manhunt following his escape from the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock, Arkansas. Hardin, who was serving an 80-year sentence for murder and rape, had escaped on May 25 by impersonating a corrections officer, exploiting his law enforcement background to bypass security measures.

Authorities located Hardin approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the prison, near Moccasin Creek. The search effort involved local and federal agencies, including the U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), and utilized drones, helicopters, and tracking dogs. Hardin was apprehended without incident, and his identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis.

Hardin’s criminal history includes the 2017 murder of James Appleton, a water department employee in Gateway, Arkansas, and a 1997 rape case linked to him through DNA evidence in 2019. His escape and subsequent capture have prompted scrutiny of prison security protocols and raised concerns about the placement of high-risk inmates in facilities where they might exploit insider knowledge.