Grant Hardin, a convicted murderer known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” has been moved to the high-security Varner SuperMax prison located southeast of Little Rock, Arkansas, following his recent recapture. Hardin briefly attempted to flee when approached by law enforcement officers but was quickly subdued.
Prison officials faced significant challenges when tracking Hardin after his escape, employing drones and bloodhounds; however, heavy rainfall had elevated water levels in nearby creeks, complicating the search efforts. Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system, indicated that the flooding restricted both Hardin and the search teams’ movements in the rugged terrain.
Hardin managed to escape the Calico Rock prison, where he had been serving a sentence for first-degree murder since 2017, by disguising himself as a corrections officer. This breach raised serious concerns about protocol, as authorities are investigating why his identification was not checked when he left the facility.
Local residents, including bartender Roger Simons, expressed surprise at Hardin’s proximity to the prison during his two-week flight. Initially, many believed he had fled the area. His escape prompted fear among trial witnesses and his victims, compelling them to alter their daily routines for safety. Benton County Prosecutor Bryan Sexton noted that his contacts had consistently felt uneasy, heightening their concerns about being unwittingly on the run.
Upon his recapture, those affected by Hardin’s past crimes, including family members of his victims, voiced relief. Cheryl Tillman, whose brother was shot by Hardin, described the situation as a “big sigh of relief” and applauded the efforts of the police who ensured his capture. Sexton acknowledged the necessity of placing Hardin in a more secure location to alleviate community worries and restore a sense of normalcy.
The Varner SuperMax facility, established in 1987, is regarded as Arkansas’s most secure prison, accommodating dangerous inmates, including those on death row. Sexton underscored the importance of relocating Hardin to such a high-security environment, thus prioritising public safety and the well-being of those previously affected by his crimes.