Authorities believe Grant Hardin, a convicted murderer and former police chief known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” has likely fled Arkansas after escaping from prison last month. This data comes from a federal court filing released this week.

A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Little Rock against Grant Hardin, who escaped prison last month, was released this week. According to officials, Hardin escaped the Calico Rock prison in Arkansas by wearing a disguise resembling a law enforcement uniform.

In the complaint, Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert J. Hammons mentions two previously publicized unconfirmed sightings of hardin – one in central Arkansas and another in southern Missouri.

“Based on this information, investigators believe Hardin has fled the state of Arkansas to avoid recapture,” the filing states. “He has extensive knowledge of the Ozark Mountain region, where he is believed to be possibly hiding in caves or rugged terrain that he is familiar with.”

The complaint, initially reported by The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, does not include additional sightings of Hardin or evidence suggesting he has left the state.arkansas authorities have stated thier focus remains on north-central Arkansas, as tips from other locations have not been substantiated.

“Until there’s any confirmed, verifiable sightings or evidence that puts him outside the area, we’re still focusing the search on this area,” said Rand Champion, spokesman for the Department of Corrections, on Thursday.

Hardin, a former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. He was the subject of the TV documentary “Devil in the ozarks.”

A spokesperson for the Missouri Highway Patrol stated that while they do not have an active team searching for Hardin, the patrol is monitoring for him and investigating any tips received. Lt. Eric F. Brown mentioned that the patrol received two tips about Hardin being in Missouri, but both were unfounded.

Hardin was housed in a maximum-security wing of the North central Unit, a primarily medium-security prison. Officials are investigating whether Hardin’s job in the kitchen aided his escape, specifically if it provided access to materials for creating his makeshift uniform.

In an 11-page letter to an Arkansas judge in 2018, Hardin stated he began working in the prison’s kitchen approximately eight years prior.hardin wrote that he told his defense lawyer he wished to withdraw his plea agreement in the murder case but was unable to do so.

The Arkansas Department of Corrections recently released a new photo rendering of Hardin, depicting his potential current appearance, including hair on his head and facial hair.