A new possible headshot of Grant Hardin, the former police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, who escaped from prison last week, shows what the fugitive known as the “Devil in the Ozarks” might look like today as authorities continue their search for him.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections released the image of Hardin, 56, on social media Tuesday, saying the search for him is focused on north central Arkansas. Hardin had been at North Central Unit, a prison located in Calico Rock, Arkansas, since 2017.
“With over a week passing since Hardin escaped the North Central Unit, we are releasing a possible updated headshot which could reflect how he might look today,” the department wrote on X.
In contrast to a previous mugshot of the ex-police chief, who was serving a decadeslong sentence for murder and rape, the new possible photo of Hardin shows him with facial hair and he appears to be slimmer.
The corrections department also said investigators are using tips from the public to guide their search efforts.
A reward for information that leads to the capture of Hardin has also increased to $25,000, the Arkansas Department of Corrections said Tuesday. A $20,000 reward will come from the FBI and $5,000 from the U.S. Marshals.
Hardin escaped from the prison on May 25 by impersonating a corrections officer “in dress and manner,” according to a court document. A prison officer opened a secure gate, allowing him to leave the facility.
The outfit was not a standard inmate or correctional uniform, Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, said. Officials are working to determine how he was either able to get the uniform or manufacture it himself.
An investigation into what led up to the escape “to help determine any assistance he may have had” was ongoing, the Arkansas Department of Corrections said.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at www.tips.fbi.gov.
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