Grant Hardin, the “Devil in the Ozarks” and former police chief convicted of murder and rape, was apprehended 1.5 miles from the prison he escaped from after a two-week manhunt. Hardin, who impersonated a corrections officer to escape, was captured after a brief attempt to flee. His capture concluded a search involving bloodhounds, mounted officers, drones, helicopters, and a specialized Border Patrol team navigating the rugged terrain. Authorities are investigating a lapse in security that allowed his escape.
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A 33-year-old Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of principle to simple escape and malfeasance in office for his alleged role in the escape of ten inmates from the Orleans Justice Center. Williams reportedly complied with an inmate’s request to turn off the water in a cell, facilitating their escape through a hole behind a toilet. The escape, believed to be an inside job, involved inmates cutting through steel bars and changing clothes before being discovered hours later. Four escapees have been recaptured, while six remain at large.
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Ricky Wassenaar, a Tucson prison inmate serving 16 life sentences for a prior hostage situation, is the sole suspect in the deaths of three fellow inmates following a Friday altercation. The ADCRR investigation is underway, and while the cause of death remains undisclosed, preliminary reports suggest intentional harm. The deceased inmates, Alvarez, Harnage, and Lashley, were serving sentences for various violent crimes. Authorities have stated that there is no current threat to the prison.
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Following a similar incident earlier this week, multiple Upstate Correctional Facility employees experienced symptoms including lightheadedness and vomiting after assisting an unresponsive inmate on Saturday. Several staff members required multiple doses of Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication, and were transported to a local hospital. Union officials suspect a synthetic drug, potentially entering via mail, is responsible for these recurring incidents. The unpredictable nature of synthetic opioids complicates detection and presents ongoing challenges for prison security.
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John Q. Hosedrinker