{"id":2444271,"date":"2025-06-07T13:07:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T17:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/escaped-inmate-devil-in-the-ozarks-found-after-long-manhunt-for-convicted-murderer-rapist-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-06-07T13:07:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T17:07:34","slug":"escaped-inmate-devil-in-the-ozarks-found-after-long-manhunt-for-convicted-murderer-rapist-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/escaped-inmate-devil-in-the-ozarks-found-after-long-manhunt-for-convicted-murderer-rapist-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Escaped inmate \u2018Devil in the Ozarks\u2019 found after long manhunt for convicted murderer, rapist &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fescaped-inmate-devil-in-the-ozarks-found-after-long-manhunt-for-convicted-murderer-rapist-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2444271&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Grant Hardin, an escaped inmate known as teh &#8220;Devil in the Ozarks,&#8221; has been apprehended after a lengthy manhunt. He was reported missing from an Arkansas prison on May 25 and was later discovered hiding in the woods near the North Central Unit in Calico Rock. Hardin, a convicted murderer and rapist, had eluded capture by impersonating a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/public-radio-reporter-arrested-for-firebombing-police-cars\/\" title=\"Public Radio \u201cReporter\u201d Arrested For Firebombing Police Cars\">law enforcement official<\/a>, deceiving a corrections officer into opening a secure gate. His escape and subsequent capture were aided by local, state, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/d-c-mayor-congress-must-open-a-probe-into-security-failures-at-u-s-capitol\/\" title=\"D.C. Mayor: Congress must open a probe into security failures at U.S. Capitol\">federal law enforcement<\/a>, with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressing relief at his recapture. Hardin was serving lengthy sentences for the murder and rape of a schoolteacher.A 2023 documentary about him <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >brought significant media attention prior<\/a> to his escape.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Escaped inmate &lsquo;Devil in the Ozarks&rsquo; found after long manhunt for convicted murderer, rapist<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2141865\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Grant Hardin, an escaped <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arkansas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Arkansas <\/a>inmate known as the &ldquo;Devil in the Ozarks,&rdquo; has been taken into custody, the Izard County <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Sheriff&rsquo;s<\/a> Office said Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Hardin is a convicted murderer and rapist. He was reported missing from prison on May 25.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3434672\/search-expands-former-army-soldier-kill-daughters-washington-state\/\">Search expands for former Army soldier accused of killing his 3 young daughters in Washington state<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3433671\/florida-sheriff-marcos-lopez-arrest-key-suspect-illegal-gambling-operation\/\">Florida sheriff arrested as key suspect in massive illegal gambling operation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3431729\/agroterrorism-fungus-smuggled-into-us-2022-inside-boots\/\">&#8216;Agroterrorism&#8217; fungus was first smuggled into US in 2022 inside Chinese national&#8217;s boots<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Hardin was taken into custody by Izard County authorities just a short distance from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock,&rdquo; the Stone County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office said&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1AVNkVTSA3\/\">via Facebook<\/a>. &ldquo;While many details will remain under investigation there is no longer an active threat to public safety.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Arkansas Department of Corrections said Hardin managed to escape by impersonating a law enforcement official. He passed off as one &ldquo;in dress and manner, causing the corrections officer operating a secure gate to open the gate and allow Inmate Hardin to walk away from the North Central Unit,&rdquo; a probable cause affidavit obtained by Nexstar&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwahomepage.com\/news\/escaped-arkansas-inmate-may-not-have-been-convicted-of-rape-without-john-doe-warrant-prosecutor-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">KNWA<\/a> said.<\/p>\n<p>Board of Corrections member Benny Magness&nbsp;said Hardin was captured about a mile from the unit in the woods with the help of a specialized border patrol unit.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR) said Arkansans can be relieved that he&rsquo;s caught. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Thanks to the great work of local, state and federal law enforcement Arkansans can breathe a sigh of relief and I can confirm that violent criminal Grant Hardin is back in custody,&rdquo; Sanders said. &ldquo;I am grateful for all law enforcement who contributed to his capture and give special thanks to the Trump administration and Secretary Kristi Noem, who sent a team from Border Patrol that was instrumental in tracking and apprehending Hardin.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3320030\/federal-workers-ordered-return-work-no-office-space\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>FEDERAL WORKERS ORDERED TO RETURN TO WORK TO FIND THEMSELVES OFFICELESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A 2023 television documentary titled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt33000060\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Devil in the Ozarks<\/em><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-commerce-secretary-is-a-former-venture-capitalist-but-some-gopers-warn-shell-be-soft-on-china\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Commerce Secretary Is A Former Venture Capitalist, But Some GOPers Warn She\u2019ll Be \u2018Soft On China\u2019\">drew national attention<\/a> to Hardin.<\/p>\n<p>Hardin had been serving a 30-year sentence for murder in the fatal shooting of 59-year-old James Appleton, for which he was arrested in 2017. He also is serving a 50-year sentence for raping a Arkansas elementary school teacher in 1997.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2141865\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2141865\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Escaped inmate Grant Hardin, known as &#8216;Devil in the Ozarks,&#8217; captured<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2444272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Grant-Hardin.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33324,56738,56737,3900,32076],"class_list":["post-2444271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-convicted-murderer","tag-devil-in-the-ozarks","tag-escaped-inmate","tag-manhunt","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Grant-Hardin.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2444271"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2444275,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444271\/revisions\/2444275"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2444272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2444271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2444271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2444271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}