Authorities Unveil Potential New Appearance of ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ Fugitive

Nearly ten days have passed since Grant Hardin, a convict featured in an HBO documentary as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” escaped from an Arkansas prison. Due to the time that has elapsed, authorities believe his appearance may have changed. On Tuesday, the Arkansas Department of Corrections released a photo illustration of the 56-year-old man, showing him with a short beard and mustache.

The escape occurred on May 25 when Hardin fled from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock. Security cameras captured him wheeling a cart laden with wooden pallets while dressed in a law enforcement-style uniform, seemingly to avoid detection by prison guards. In 2016, Hardin briefly served as the police chief of Gateway, Arkansas.

During this time, he was criticized by James Appleton, an employee of the city’s water department, for promoting police pursuits that reportedly burdened taxpayers with escalating vehicle repair costs. Appleton’s sister, Cheryl Tillman, who is now the mayor of Gateway, recounted their conflicts over these issues in the HBO documentary. Hardin resigned after just four months in the position.

On February 23, 2017, Hardin fatally shot Appleton, leading to a guilty plea that resulted in a 30-year prison sentence. Further investigation revealed that his DNA matched evidence from a 1997 rape case involving an elementary school teacher, for which he was also convicted and subsequently sentenced to an additional 50 years. Efforts to locate Hardin are currently concentrated in north-central Arkansas, where his parents reside in Garfield.

The total reward for information about his capture has now reached $25,000, following contributions from the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service. Hardin is described as a white male, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing around 259 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Any sightings or leads should be reported to the FBI.