Context:

Grant Hardin, a former Arkansas police chief and convicted murderer known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks,' was captured near the Calico Rock North Central Unit after escaping from the high-security prison on May 25 by disguising himself in a fake law enforcement uniform. The manhunt, which lasted nearly two weeks, ended when tracking dogs detected his scent, allowing law enforcement to apprehend him approximately a mile and a half from the prison. Hardin, who had been serving a lengthy sentence for the murder of James Appleton and a separate rape and kidnapping case, was deemed extremely dangerous by officials. His escape occurred during heavy rain, which complicated efforts to track him but also limited his movement. Despite his background in law enforcement, Hardin's career was marred by misconduct allegations, and his criminal activities were later highlighted in a television documentary released in 2023.

Dive Deeper:

• Grant Hardin, who was once the police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, escaped from the Calico Rock North Central Unit on May 25 by dressing in a fake law enforcement uniform, eluding capture for nearly two weeks until he was found less than two miles from the prison.

• Hardin was serving a decades-long sentence for the murder of James Appleton, whom he shot at point-blank range in 2017, and for a 1997 rape and kidnapping case, to which he pleaded guilty in 2018, adding 50 years to his sentence.

• The intense manhunt concluded with Hardin's capture after law enforcement utilized tracking dogs to follow his scent, and his identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis by the Izard County Sheriff’s Department.

• Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed relief at Hardin's capture, acknowledging the role of a federal Border Patrol team in the successful manhunt, which was challenged by inclement weather that both hindered search efforts and restricted Hardin's movements.

• Hardin's criminal history includes multiple allegations of misconduct during his law enforcement career, such as excessive force and falsifying police reports, and his notoriety was further cemented by the 2023 documentary 'Devil in the Ozarks.'