In a move that signals significant efforts from law enforcement, prison authorities have moved the notorious killer, known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” to the state’s most secure facility after his brazen escape and recapture.
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The convicted murderer and rapist tried to flee law enforcement’s massive two-week manhunt but was caught just 1.5 miles from the prison he escaped by impersonating a corrections officer.
Grant Hardin, a former police chief whose heinous crimes inspired a television documentary, has been transferred to the Varner SuperMax prison southeast of Little Rock.
The transfer represents a significant security upgrade from the Calico Rock facility, where he had been held since 2017 and escaped by exploiting apparent security lapses that are now under investigation.
The manhunt for Hardin mobilized substantial resources as authorities used drones, bloodhounds, and helicopters to search the rugged terrain of northern Arkansas.
Their efforts were complicated by high water levels from recent heavy rains, which limited search teams’ ability to investigate certain areas fully.
Recaptured Arkansas prison escapee known as the ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ sent to SuperMax prison https://t.co/uWVktMgs4W
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According to Rand Champion, spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system, Hardin was captured over the weekend at approximately 3:45 PM near Moccasin Creek in Izard County.
When approached by officers, he briefly attempted to flee but was quickly tackled and restrained. His identity was later confirmed through fingerprint analysis.
“The direction he went, specifically around Moccasin Creek, saw high water due to the abundance of rain the last few weeks, which more than likely limited his options to get around the area,” Champion said.
He added, “Search teams had looked through this area before, but the high water previously limited their ability to fully investigate.”
Hardin’s terrifying criminal history includes a 30-year sentence for the murder of James Appleton and an additional 50-year sentence for two counts of rape linked to a 1997 case through DNA evidence.
His escape sent shockwaves through the community, particularly among those who had testified against him or been victimized by his crimes.
“Every one of them to a person informed me that they had to make changes in their lives because they had had concerns for their safety,” said Benton County Prosecutor Bryan Sexton,
The Varner Unit, established in 1987 with a capacity of 1,714 inmates, houses the state’s SuperMax facility, designed specifically for high-risk prisoners.
“By reputation, Varner is the most secure prison in the Arkansas system. I think that all things considering, putting him (Hardin) in the most secure facility we can is probably a wise thing to do,” Sexton noted.
Local resident Roger Simons expressed surprise at Hardin’s capture so close to the prison: “None of us really thought he was still in the area. We thought he was long gone — that’s what I would have bet my money on.”
Meanwhile, authorities are thoroughly investigating how Hardin escaped by impersonating a corrections officer without verifying his identity.
The security breakdown raises serious questions about protocols at the Calico Rock facility and whether similar vulnerabilities exist elsewhere in the state’s prison system.
“While many details will remain under investigation, there is no longer an active threat to public safety,” Sheriff Brandon Long said in a statement.
The recapture operation involved coordination between Arkansas law enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol, with tracking dogs playing a crucial role in locating the dangerous fugitive.
Hardin’s transfer to the SuperMax facility ensures that the “Devil in the Ozarks” will now be contained under the strictest security conditions available in the state’s prison system.
