Ex-police chief and convicted killer who escaped from an Arkansas jail has been captured
A former police chief and convicted killer known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks' was captured by law enforcement 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) northwest of the prison he escaped from following massive, nearly two-weeks-long manhunt in the mountains of northern Arkansas, authorities announced on Friday.
Grant Hardin's identity was confirmed through fingerprinting, the Izard County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.
Hardin, a former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. Eventually, his notoriety led to a TV documentary, 'Devil in the Ozarks.'
Hardin had been held at the Calico Rock prison since 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in a fatal shooting. In order to escape, he had impersonated a corrections officer 'in dress and manner,' according to a court document. A prison officer in one of the guard towers opened a secure gate, allowing him to walk out of the facility.
Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the state prison system, said that someone should have checked Hardin's identity before he was allowed to leave, describing the lack of verification as a 'lapse' that's being investigated.
Searchers had been using bloodhounds, officers on horseback, drones and helicopters in their hunt for Hardin since he escaped on May 25.
An elite and highly trained U.S. Border Patrol team had recently joined the search, federal authorities announced this week.
The Border Patrol Tactical Team known as BORTAC provided 'advanced search capabilities and operational support' in the hunt for Hardin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. Its members are experienced in navigating complex terrain, the agency said. The Ozark Mountains region is known for its rocky and rugged landscape, thick forests and an extensive cave network.
Hardin pleaded guilty in 2017 to first-degree murder for the killing of James Appleton, 59. Appleton worked for the Gateway water department when he was shot in the head Feb. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton's body inside a car. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Hardin's DNA was also matched to the 1997 rape of a teacher at an elementary school in Rogers, north of Fayetteville. He was sentenced to 50 years for that crime.
Jeff Martin, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
U.S. watchdog launches investigation into former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith
A U.S. federal agency has opened a formal investigation into former special counsel Jack Smith, who oversaw two criminal probes into U.S. President Donald Trump following his first term in the White House. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) confirmed to Reuters that it was investigating whether Smith violated the Hatch Act, a law prohibiting federal employees from using their position for political activity. The decision follows a request for a probe by U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican. The OSC is an independent agency that probes the conduct of federal employees, but it does not have the authority to bring criminal charges. It is different from the type of Special Counsel's office previously overseen by Smith, who was appointed by the Department of Justice to pursue criminal cases. The office's investigation, which was first reported by the New York Post, is the latest in a series of actions taken by Trump and his allies against their perceived political enemies. Smith, who resigned from his post in January following Trump's election victory, could not immediately be reached for comment. Earlier this week Cotton accused Smith of aggressively pursuing his cases against Trump with the aim of hurting his presidential campaign, calling Smith "a political actor masquerading as a public official," in a series of posts on social media platform X. "That's why I've asked this unprecedented interference in the 2024 election be immediately investigated by OSC," Cotton wrote. A former war crimes prosecutor, Smith brought two criminal cases against Trump — one accusing him of illegally retaining classified material and another related to Trump's attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, an effort that sparked the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. Neither case went to trial, having been delayed and buffeted by a series of legal challenges, including a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority that granted former presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution. Smith dropped both cases after Trump won last November's election, citing a long-standing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president, but he issued a report in January saying the evidence he gathered would have been enough to convict Trump at trial. Trump denied wrongdoing and assailed the prosecutions as politically motivated attempts to damage his campaign.
National Post
2 days ago
- National Post
Teacher charged with killing a couple hiking with their kids in Arkansas park
Andrew James McGann, charged with two counts of capital murder, is seen on courtroom video monitor as he appears at bond hearing in Fayetteville, Ark. Photo by Michael Woods / AP A 28-year-old schoolteacher who admitted killing a couple who were hiking with two of their children at a state park in Arkansas has been charged with murder. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead Saturday on a walking trail at Devil's Den State Park. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said. State Police arrested Andrew James McGann after a five-day search and a flood of tips. He was captured in Springdale, a city about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Devil's Den. Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said authorities are trying to determine a motive for the attack. Suspect faces Arkansas judge McGann, who has been charged with two counts of capital murder, made his first appearance on Friday before an Arkansas judge, who ordered McGann to be held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center, assigned him a public defender and scheduled his arraignment for Aug. 25. Washington County prosecutor Brandon Carter indicated the state would give a jury the option to sentence McGann to the death penalty. The Brinks had just moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. Their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, Mayor David Faulk said. Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver Monday in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. Officials said Clinton Brink was stabbed first then Cristen Brink ushered her children to safety before returning to help her husband. She was also stabbed to death. Authorities have not said if the girls witnessed both their parents being killed. The Brink family said the couple died 'heroes protecting their little girls.' Suspect is a newly hired teacher Springdale Public Schools in northwest Arkansas said it had hired McGann for the upcoming year but that he had not yet had contact with families or students. He has active teaching licenses with no infractions or suspensions in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, according to government certification websites. McGann was placed on administrative leave in spring 2023 while he was employed at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, 'following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism,' according to a spokesperson for the Lewisville Independent School District. He resigned from the school in May 2023.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
RCMP perspectives on boating safety
RCMP Sgt. David Portelance, Marine Advisor for the Manitoba RCMP gives us a breakdown of the laws regarding impaired boating and enforcement.
