Inside the Arkansas Prison Escape: How ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ Planned an Unbelievable Getaway

A former police chief, Grant Hardin, known as “the devil in the Ozarks,” recently escaped from an Arkansas prison, highlighting serious security lapses. An internal review revealed that Hardin spent months planning his escape, aided by weaknesses in the kitchen where he worked.

Hardin was captured on June 6, just 1.5 miles from the prison. He crafted a convincing outfit to resemble law enforcement, using items like black markers and laundry to create a fake uniform and badge. “I knew no one ever checked the trash,” he told investigators, explaining how he hid supplies in a trash can.

The review found that two prison staff members were fired for violating security protocols. One allowed Hardin unsupervised access to a back dock, and a guard opened the gate without verifying his identity. Several other staff faced suspension or demotion.

Hardin noted that security in the kitchen was “very lax,” giving him the chance to prepare. He even built a wooden ladder to scale the prison fence but didn’t need it. When he approached the gate, he simply instructed the guard to open it.

Once outside, Hardin lived off food he had smuggled from the prison, along with berries, bird eggs, and creek water. He had initially planned to hide in the woods for six months before moving west.

Hardin, who was serving long sentences for murder and rape, gained notoriety through a TV documentary titled Devil in the Ozarks. His escape is now the focus of multiple investigations, including one by Arkansas state police. Lawmakers are also looking into the incident, with concerns raised about the thoroughness of the official report.

State representative Howard Beaty expressed a desire to delve deeper into the systemic issues that allowed this escape. It was also noted that Hardin had been misclassified as a medium-security inmate despite his serious convictions.

Since the escape, the corrections department has taken significant steps to improve security, including removing electric locks from gates and enhancing monitoring with additional cameras. There is also a push for more thorough searches for contraband in various areas.

This situation sheds light on broader issues in prison management and safety protocols. Experts note that incidents like this raise questions about how thoroughly inmate classifications are reviewed and the training staff receive on security procedures. Robust strategies are essential to prevent future escapes and maintain public safety.

For additional insight, you can check reports from the Arkansas Department of Corrections here.

Source link