The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is offering a $20,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of Grant Matthew Hardin, a man the FBI and local law enforcement have said should be considered armed and dangerous.
Hardin’s case has been highlighted by the FBI in their Case of the Week. He escaped from Calico Rock Prison in Arkansas on May 25 where he was serving a prison sentence for homicide and rape convictions. A red banner on the agency’s Most Wanted page reads: “Should be considered armed and dangerous and an escape risk.”
Officials do not believe Hardin received inside help from prison employees at this time, according to ABC.
Newsweek has contacted the Stone County Sheriff’s Office for comment via its website.
Why It Matters
Hardin’s escape comes after another high-profile jail break occurred in New Orleans, where 10 prisoners managed to escape from the New Orleans Justice Center, raising questions about prison and jail security.
What To Know
Once a police chief in Gateway, Arkansas, Hardin gained the nickname “Devil in the Ozarks” for his conviction of murder in the 1st degree and rape.
Hardin was found guilty of murder in connection with the shooting of Gateway Water Department worker James Appleton in 2017. He was then found guilty of the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher after police were able to use his DNA to match him to the scene, The Associated Press reported.
According to an affidavit filed by Special Agent Dennis Simons of the Izard County Sheriff’s Office, “Inmate Hardin impersonated a corrections officer in dress and manner causing the corrections officer operating a secure gate to open the gate and allow inmate Hardin to walk away from the North Central Unit.”
Authorities told the press that the uniform was not official, but “homemade or brought in somehow.”
Gateway Mayor Cheryl Tilman, who is also Appleton’s sister, described Hardin as an “evil man,” to KHBS. And, former Benton County prosecutor, Nathan Smith, described him to the outlet as a “sociopath.”
What People Are Saying
Stone County Sheriff Brandon Long told ABC News: “I am very scared that this guy is going to hurt or kill somebody before this is over with.”
Stone County Sheriff’s Office, on Facebook: “Anyone with information about inmate Hardin’s whereabouts should contact local law enforcement immediately. Hardin was serving time in prison for rape and murder. He is to be considered extremely dangerous and should not be approached.”
What Happens Next
Hardin was serving 30 years in prison for 1st degree murder, and 50 years for rape. He is now facing second-degree escape charges as well.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact 911, the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, or their local FBI office.
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