Inmate Escape Raises Concerns in Arkansas
On Thursday, Arkansas lawmakers probed state Department of Corrections officials regarding the escape of a notorious inmate known as the “Ozarks Devil” back in May.
Grant Hardin, a 56-year-old convicted murderer and rapist, was apprehended on June 6, approximately 1.5 miles from the North Central prison facility he fled from on May 25, according to the Izzard County Sheriff’s Office.
During the hearing, DOC Chairman Benny Magness informed Senator Fredrick Club that no officials actively assisted Hardin in his escape. However, he noted that a kitchen supervisor had allowed inmates working in the kitchen unsupervised access to the back docks.
“Then the guy at the tower passed him through the gate… you can’t just open that gate without anyone on the ground to check who is leaving,” Magnes pointed out, mentioning that both employees involved were terminated for rule violations.
Hardin, infamously dubbed “The Devil of the Ozarks,” was captured weeks later following an extensive manhunt involving multiple agencies.
Magnes revealed that Hardin had managed to escape through the Surrey Port wearing what appeared to be a makeshift ADC uniform, although ADC Communications Director Land Champion clarified that it was not an official outfit. He elaborated that Hardin had used a black “magic marker” to alter his clothing as part of his disguise.
Interestingly, Magnes remarked, “I actually saw him top the little badge he made out of soup,” which kind of emphasizes the lengths he went to in his attempts to blend in.
Hardin is serving an 80-year sentence related to the murder of James Appleton in 2017 and a previously unresolved rape case from 1997.
After his capture, various law enforcement agencies collaborated in the search, which lasted about two weeks. The Arkansas Department of Corrections Secretary expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the dedicated teams who committed their time and resources to locate Hardin.
In such situations, it’s not unusual for some aspects to feel unresolved or for additional questions to emerge about the processes in place. It really makes you think about safety and accountability within correctional facilities.
