Who is Grant Hardin, the 'Devil in the Ozarks'?

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(NewsNation) — The hunt continued Wednesday for a former constabulary main successful Arkansas who escaped prison, dubbed the "Devil successful the Ozarks."

Hardin, who is serving decades-long sentences for rape and first-degree murder, escaped from the North Central Unit successful Calico Rock, Arkansas, wherever helium had been held since 2017.

Court documents accidental Hardin escaped from the situation connected Sunday by impersonating a corrections officer “in formal and manner." A situation serviceman reportedly opened a unafraid gate, allowing him to permission the facility.

Grant Hardin was a erstwhile constabulary chief, served successful aggregate departments

Hardin, primitively from Garfield, Arkansas, was hired arsenic constabulary main successful the tiny municipality of Gateway successful 2016. He resigned conscionable months aft taking the position.

Hardin had besides served successful the Eureka Springs Police Department earlier resigning successful 1996.

Hardin served 2 terms arsenic constable successful Benton, Arkansas, and worked arsenic a correctional officer.

Grant Hardin was convicted of first-degree execution and rape

In October 2017, Hardin pleaded blameworthy to first-degree execution successful the shooting decease of James Appleton.

Appleton, 59, worked for the h2o section successful Gateway and was talking to his brother-in-law, Andrew Tillman, the erstwhile politician of Gateway, erstwhile helium was changeable successful the caput by Hardin.

Hardin was sentenced to 30 years successful situation connected apical of the 50 years helium was serving for the 1997 rape of a teacher successful Rogers, Arkansas.

Manhunt underway to seizure Grant Hardin

Authorities said they are utilizing canines, drones and helicopters to search for Hardin successful the rugged bluish Arkansas terrain.

The situation is located successful a agrarian portion of the state, and the hunt effort has deed roadblocks owed to caller dense rain.

Video surveillance showed Hardin escaped astatine conscionable earlier 3 p.m. connected Sunday. Officials announced his flight 2 hours later.