'Devil in the Ozarks' gets more prison time for escaping, now in supermax facility

By Stephen Sorace

The man known as the "Devil in the Ozarks" was sentenced to 13 more years behind bars after pleading guilty on Tuesday to escaping from an Arkansas prison last year while serving an 80-year sentence for rape and murder.

Grant Hardin, 57, will serve the 13-year sentence for second-degree escape consecutively to the 80 years he is currently serving, Izard County Sheriff Charley Melton told KAIT8 News.

Hardin is currently being held at the Varner Supermax in Gould, Arkansas, according to Arkansas Department of Corrections online records.

The convicted murderer and rapist was captured on June 6, approximately 1.5 miles north-northwest of the North Central Unit prison facility from which he escaped on May 25.

Grant Hardin is being held at the Varner SuperMax in Gould, Arkansas. (Arkansas Department of Corrections )

Hardin had fled the prison around 3 p.m. through a sally port in the detention facility, wearing a makeshift ADC-style uniform, officials said at the time, noting the uniform he had been wearing was not official.

Hardin escaped prison through a sally sport, wearing a makeshift ADC-style uniform, ADC communications director Rand Champion said, noting the uniform he was wearing was not official. (ADC)

Officials also said at the time that Hardin apparently used a black "magic marker" to dye his clothing as part of his disguise.

Multiple federal, state and local agencies were involved in the search for Hardin in the weeks following his escape.

Grant Hardin shirtless on ground as he's taken into custody in wooded area

Grant Hardin was captured on June 6, less than two miles from the correctional facility where he escaped on May 25. (U.S. Border Patrol)

A split image of Grant Hardin being captured in a wooded area and Hardin sitting in a chair after his capture

Grant Hardin allegedly used a black marker and soup can to disguise himself before escaping prison. (U.S. Border Patrol)

The Arkansas Department of Correction said at the time of Hardin’s capture that tracking dogs were able to pick up a scent near Moccasin Creek, and Hardin was apprehended a short time later.

Hardin was serving an 80-year sentence for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and a 1997 rape case.

Fox News' Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/devil-ozarks-gets-more-prison-time-escaping-now-supermax-facility