Retired police chief Grant Hardin has been captured following a violent 13-day manhunt. For one convicted killer and rapist prowling the wilderness of northern Arkansas, it was the oasis that made the difference. Hardin, dubbed the “Devil in the Ozarks,” was apprehended. He was found approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the prison from which he had initially escaped. The Izard County Sheriff’s Office shared the news of his capture in a Facebook post. This announcement concluded an intense manhunt that had gripped Central Florida communities with fear.
Hardin, who is serving a 50-year sentence for serious crimes, managed to escape when a prison officer opened a secure gate in one of the guard towers. That security lapse aided him in making his getaway into the deep wooded and rugged landscape of the Ozark Mountains. This region is notorious for its large, undulating cave system, providing him with plenty of room to lay low.
Law enforcement officials sunk considerable resources into the manhunt. To do so, they even deployed an elite tactical unit from the U.S. Border Patrol — named BORTAC — to help restore order. It was this incredibly specialized team that brought us state-of-the-art search. Their operations support was key in finding Hardin inside the rugged terrain of the Ozarks.
After authorities apprehended Hardin, fingerprinting helped authorities confirm his identity. This allayed fears that had circulated when searchers found one body in a submerged car during the search. Later, law enforcement determined the body found in the woods was not Hardin. This new development led to worries that Harris had perhaps encountered a more violent fate.
The Ozark Mountains, characterized by their thick forests and rugged landscapes, posed unique challenges for search teams throughout the manhunt. These additional conditions conspired to make it hard for law enforcement to track Hardin’s movements in real time, further extending the search.
In recent years, Hardin has achieved infamy not just for his crimes, but for media representations. Further chronicling his life and crimes, a documentary called “Devil in the Ozarks” was released in 2023. This new layer of public interest only increased the urgency around his capture.