(NewsNation) — Grant Hardin, who was convicted of rape and murder, escaped from the Arkansas North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25. NewsNation spoke with a wilderness survival expert on the case who said Hardin could make mistakes the longer he’s out there.
Police believe Hardin is hiding within the rough terrain of the Ozarks. Reality TV star Dave Canterbury said the damp and cold of northwest Arkansas could be Hardin’s undoing, whereas a cabin with supplies could keep him going.
“The longer he goes without food, the longer he’s wet, the longer he’s not sleeping well at night, the more apt he is to make mistakes,” Canterbury said.
The director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Rand Champion, told NewsNation that the search has been made tougher because of the Ozarks. The caves, waterways and forests in the area — and Hardin’s police background — could help Hardin stay hidden.
“We’ve got to try and access some pretty hard-to-get-to places. And so being able to get into there has caused some challenges,” Champion said. “It’s also a reason why, you know, people are questioning, why is the search taking so long? There’s a lot of areas out there, and it’s hard to search it.”
New mugshot released of Grant Hardin, ‘Devil in Ozarks’ escapee
The FBI recently released a new mugshot of Hardin. In a statement, the Arkansas Department of Corrections provided a photo of what Hardin might look like currently.
Authorities said Hardin escaped by wearing an outfit that looked like a law enforcement uniform. Champion said tips on sightings of the former police chief have come in, but none have been successful. Hardin had been in a maximum-security wing of the mostly medium-security prison
Legislators in the area, Republican Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Matt McKee, sent a letter to the head of the legislative subcommittee overseeing the prison, Benny Magness. The letter stated:
“Given Hardin’s background as a former law enforcement officer and his history of working for multiple law enforcement agencies, it is evident that he possesses knowledge and skills that enabled him to exploit weaknesses in our security protocols… His manipulation of the system by wearing a disguise resembling a uniform is disturbing and speaks to a broader system failure.”
The reward for information leading to Hardin’s capture is currently sitting at $25,000. Anyone who has information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online.