A former police chief and convicted killer known as the “Devil in the Ozarks” was captured by law enforcement 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of the prison he escaped from following a massive manhunt in the mountains of northern Arkansas, authorities announced on Friday.

Grant Hardin’s identity was confirmed through fingerprinting, the Izard County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

Hardin, a former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. He was the subject of the TV documentary “Devil in the Ozarks.”

Searchers had been using bloodhounds, officers on horseback, drones and helicopters in their hunt for Hardin since he escaped nearly two weeks ago on May 25.

An elite and highly trained U.S. Border Patrol team had recently joined the search, federal authorities announced this week.

The Border Patrol Tactical Team known as BORTAC provided “advanced search capabilities and operational support” in the hunt for Hardin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. Its members are experienced in navigating complex terrain, the agency said. The Ozark Mountains region is known for its rocky and rugged landscape, thick forests and an extensive cave network.

Hardin had been held at the Calico Rock prison since 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in a fatal shooting for which he was serving a 30-year sentence. In order to escape, he had impersonated a corrections officer “in dress and manner,” according to a court document. A prison officer in one of the guard towers opened a secure gate, allowing him to walk out of the facility.

  • shplane@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    Me thinks the officer on the guard tower who let him out knew who he was and didn’t like the idea of a police officer being in prison. Seems too likely based on how cops treat each other but maybe I’m just too conspiratorial.

    • lemmy_user_838586@lemmy.world
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      20 hours ago

      Searchers had been using bloodhounds, officers on horseback, drones and helicopters in their hunt for Hardin

      Must be a weird feeling to get caught by a system of surveillance you had a hand in supporting…

      • chingadera@lemmy.world
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        11 hours ago

        Not only that, but you knew all of this existed, and you still only covered what would be 2 hours of walking calmly in what two weeks?

        What a fucking joke. Everyone hold your breath, no chance he gets back out in 10 seconds.