FBI Offers $20K Reward for 'Devil in the Ozarks' Fugitive Ex-Police Chief

The manhunt is on in Arkansas for Grant Hardin, a former police chief turned convicted murderer and rapist, who slipped out of a medium-security prison in Calico Rock on May 25. Dubbed the "Devil in the Ozarks," Hardin, 56, has the FBI dangling a $20,000 reward for tips leading to his capture. Authorities believe he’s still lurking in the rugged terrain of Stone County, possibly holed up in an abandoned cabin or shed.

Hardin’s past as Gateway Police Department chief gives him a chilling edge. “He knows how the system works—surveillance, leads, the whole game,” former FBI agent Rob D’Amico told Fox & Friends. This isn’t just a runaway convict; it’s a man with insider knowledge of law enforcement tactics, making him a slippery target. The Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) says Hardin vanished through a sally port, wearing a knockoff prison uniform, and was noticed missing in under 30 minutes.

Hardin’s rap sheet is grim. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to murdering James Appleton, a city water employee found shot in the face in his work truck. His DNA later tied him to a 1997 rape case, landing him a 30-year sentence plus extra time. Now, with ties to nearby towns like Garfield and Eureka Springs, authorities warn he’s “very dangerous” and could strike again.

The ADC is confident Hardin hasn’t strayed far, but as one official noted, “all it takes is one vehicle” to change that. A perimeter is set, and the public is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI with any leads. At 6 feet tall and 259 pounds, Hardin isn’t exactly blending into the Ozark scenery.