Arkansas Prison Break: Internal Report Exposes ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ Elaborate Escape Plan and Security Failures
Arkansas Prison Break: Internal Report Exposes ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ Elaborate Escape Plan and Security Failures
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An internal review by Arkansas prison officials has laid bare the intricate details of convicted murderer Grant Hardin, known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” and his successful escape from the Calico Rock prison in May. The report, released recently, reveals that Hardin meticulously planned his escape for six months, exploiting significant security weaknesses, particularly within the prison kitchen.
The Department of Corrections’ critical incident review provides the most comprehensive account to date of Hardin’s May 25 breakout and the systemic issues that allowed him to simply walk out of the facility. Hardin, a former police chief serving sentences for murder and rape, was apprehended on June 6, just 1.5 miles northwest of the prison.
According to the report, Hardin, who worked in the prison kitchen, created a fake law enforcement uniform using black Sharpie markers and laundry found in the kitchen. He fashioned a badge from a can lid and hid his supplies in a rarely-checked trash can. Hardin reportedly told investigators that the kitchen staff was “very lax on security,” enabling him to gather all necessary items without assistance from staff or other inmates. He even constructed a ladder from wooden pallets, though it ultimately wasn’t needed.
The review highlights a critical security lapse: Hardin’s testimony reveals he simply approached a gate and “directed the officer to ‘open the gate,’ and he did.” This breach has led to immediate repercussions, with two prison employees fired for procedure violations – a kitchen employee who permitted unsupervised access to a back dock and a tower guard who unlocked the gate without identity confirmation. Several other employees have faced suspensions or demotions.
After his escape, Hardin survived in the woods on smuggled food, distilled water from his CPAP machine, creek water, berries, bird eggs, and ants, intending to hide for months before moving west. The report also cites initial confusion among corrections officials regarding notifications during the early stages of the escape.
The review further notes that Hardin had been misclassified and should not have been held at the primarily medium-security Calico Rock facility. He has since been moved to a maximum-security prison and pleaded not guilty to escape charges, with his trial slated for November. Lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Ben Gilmore, have expressed concerns that the department’s review did not adequately address systemic issues. A legislative subcommittee plans to hold further hearings next month.
In response to the incident, the Department of Corrections has already implemented several changes, including removing electric locks from gates to ensure officer presence and installing additional cameras to eliminate blind spots. The report also recommends more thorough “shakedown” searches to include mechanical and side rooms, aiming to prevent future breaches of this nature.
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