The new episode of the Casos del Crimen con El Sargento podcast reveals the story of Grant Hardin, a former police chief who went from authority figure to one of Arkansas’ most dangerous criminals. HERE you can listen to the podcast.
This podcast, produced by Nueva Network and QuéOnnda, details the disturbing crimes and the shocking escape that shook the community.
Click on the photo to listen to the podcast
Grant Hardin, known as “The Devil of the Ozarks,” was convicted of two crimes that rocked the state.
In 2017 he murdered James Appleton, a municipal worker, by shooting him at point-blank range inside his vehicle.
Subsequently, DNA tests linked him to an unsolved rape from 1997 against an elementary school teacher in Rogers, closing a case that had remained open for more than two decades.
For both crimes, Hardin received sentences totaling nearly 80 years in prison.
An escape worthy of a movie
On May 25, 2025, while serving time at Calico Rock’s North Central Unit, Hardin managed to escape disguised as a prison guard.
He wore black dyed clothing, a cap and a fake badge made from a soup can lid to bypass security and walk out the front door.
The escape prompted a massive 13-day operation involving state police, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as rewards for information.
On June 6, 2025, he was recaptured just 2.4 kilometers from the prison, weakened after surviving in the forest.
His escape exposed serious lapses in Arkansas prison security, led to the firing of two employees and prompted reforms in the prison system.
Hardin now faces a new charge of escape, although his conviction will already keep him behind bars for life.
The voice of Sargento Carlos Cornejo
Buzzy
This new episode of El Diablo de los Ozarks on Casos del Crimen con El Sargento is narrated and analyzed by Carlos Cornejo, a former police sergeant with more than two decades of service in Colorado and creator of content focused on community education and crime prevention.
His experience on the street and in police investigation has allowed him to offer a unique perspective, combining informative rigor and sensitivity to victims.
Listen to the full episode and previous episodes on all podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcast and Spotify, as well as QuéOnnda.com.
