Arkansas prison staff were fired after letting the “Ozarks Devil” gate escape
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Arkansas lawmakers questioned officials at the state Department of Corrections on Thursday. Escape of dangerous prisoners He was called the “Ozarks Devil” in late May.
The Izzard County Sheriff’s Office said 56-year-old murderer and rapist Grant Hardin was captured on June 6 in the north-northwest, about 1.5 miles of the North Central prison facility that fled May 25.
Doc Chairman Benny Magness told Arkansas Senator Fredrick Club During Thursday’s hearing No officials actively helped Hardin escape, but the kitchen supervisor had allowed inmates who worked in the kitchen to work in the backdocks without supervision.
“Then the guy at the tower passes him through the gate… you can’t open that gate when there are no ground people there to see who wants to leave prison,” Magnes said, adding that these two employees were fired for workplace violations.
Grant Hardin is said to have used black markers and soup cans to disguise himself before fleeing prison. (US Border Patrol)
The Doc chairman also said that Hardin had to “straighten the stars” to escape. He fled the prison through the port of Surrey on Sunday at around 3pm, a detention facility, wearing a makeshift ADC style uniform, and the Land Champion, director of ADC communications, said the uniform he was wearing was not official, previously.
Magnes also said that Hardin apparently used a black “magic marker” to dye his clothes as part of his disguise.
Hardin escaped prison through Surrey Port and wore a makeshift ADC style uniform, with the ADC Communications Director Land Champion saying the uniform he was wearing was not official. (ADC)
“I actually saw him top the little badge he made out of soup,” Magnes said.
Hardin had been sentenced to 80 years. James Appleton’s Murder in 2017 A previously unsolved 1997 rape case.
Arkansas officials release new photos of “devils” who ran out after running for weeks
Grant Hardin was captured on June 6, less than two miles from the correctional facility that escaped on May 25th. (US Border Patrol)
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Several federal, state and local agencies were involved in the search for Hardin just weeks after his escape.
“We are extremely grateful to all of the dedicated law enforcement agencies who spent countless hours day and night, sacrifice their time, utilized their resources and lended their valuable expertise to this search,” the Arkansas Department of Corrections Corrections Secretary said after Hardin was captured on June 6th.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the department staff who have supported this Manhunt over the past 13 days for their immeasurable contributions to bringing this search to a peaceful conclusion.”
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten from Fox News Digital contributed to this report.