(NewsNation) — The reward for any information on the whereabouts of escaped convict Grant Hardin, also known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” has increased to a combined $25,000 between the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service.
Hardin, 56, is a former police chief who was behind bars in an Arkansas prison for murder and sexual assault before his escape May 25. Authorities say Hardin disguised himself as a security guard to get out. It is believed that he is hiding out in the Ozarks.
John Dorsey, the director of the documentary “Devil in the Ozarks,” told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas that when he got a message about Hardin’s escape and a wanted poster, he did not expect it to be current and thought it was an artifact from his film.
Dorsey added that Amy Harrison, who was a victim of sexual assault by Hardin, is in hiding after learning of his escape.
“Her life has been interrupted for the second time,” Dorsey said. “That’s why I decided to appear, because I thought that every second that Hardin’s face was on TV was another opportunity for someone to see something and say something.”
Dorsey said he was also not surprised that Hardin was able to pull off the escape.
“This is a story of a man who’s been a fugitive from the law not once but twice,” Dorsey said. “For 20 years, he was an unknown fugitive evading detection after the rape of a schoolteacher. There’s a reason why he wasn’t discovered, and that’s because he was a member of law enforcement and knew how to cover his tracks.”
Anyone with information about Hardin’s whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or local law enforcement.