Arkansas authorities are investigating the escape of Grant Hardin, a convicted murderer and former police chief known as the “Devil in the Ozarks.” Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit prison on Sunday, potentially utilizing his job in the kitchen to facilitate his getaway. Wearing a disguise resembling a law enforcement uniform, he managed to leave the maximum-security wing where he was housed.
Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, indicated that Hardin’s kitchen role may have given him access to tools and parts of the prison that could aid an escape. The prison’s kitchen employs about 50 inmates across two shifts, with strict inventory controls in place. Despite these safeguards, experts suggest that motivated individuals like Hardin might find creative ways to exploit their environment.
Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, have launched a manhunt for Hardin, offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. Search efforts are focused on the north-central Arkansas region, where various hideouts exist in the Ozark Mountains. Reports of possible sightings have emerged, including one in Missouri, though these leads have yet to yield results.
The circumstances surrounding Hardin’s escape have raised concerns among victims’ families and local lawmakers, particularly given that he had received culinary training while incarcerated. Cheryl Tillman, whose brother was killed by Hardin, expressed unease over his access to the kitchen, questioning why he was allowed to work there at all. The investigation into how Hardin managed to escape continues, as officials seek to understand the security lapses that permitted it.
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