How the “Devil in the Ozarks” Escaped: Sharpies, Aprons and Trash Cans

Summary

Podcast Summary: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present

Episode Title: How the “Devil in the Ozarks” Escaped: Sharpies, Aprons and Trash Cans
Release Date: August 16, 2025
Hosts: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes
Producer: iHeartPodcasts

---

Overview

This episode delves into the dramatic prison escape of Grant Hardin, the former Arkansas police chief known as the “Devil in the Ozarks”—a convicted murderer and rapist who became infamous through a Netflix documentary series. Hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes break down newly released investigative details on how Hardin, remarkably resourceful and cunning, managed to walk straight out of prison using a makeshift disguise, all with no outside help. The episode also explores the systemic lapses that allowed the escape and discusses the fallout for prison staff, as well as the dangerous legacy of Hardin himself.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Escape: Planning and Execution

• Grant Hardin’s Background

  • Former chief of police in a small Arkansas town; convicted of both rape and murder.
  • Became the subject of the Netflix docuseries Devil in the Ozarks ([02:37], [03:13], [19:57]).

• The Prison Break

  • Hardin escaped in late May (2025), simply walking out the back gate in broad daylight.
  • Dressed as a law enforcement agent, he waved at a tower guard who opened the gate for him ([03:40], [03:49]).
  • The convincing disguise fooled multiple staff and prompted public outrage.
  • “[He] acted like he knew what he was doing and he was believed. And he was disguised as a law enforcement agent. But that had a lot of folks head scratching…” – Amy Robach ([03:53])

• How He Pulled It Off

  • Hardin spent six months planning his escape entirely on his own, with no help from staff or inmates, according to his own statements ([06:18]).
  • Created the disguise using black sharpies, black aprons scavenged from kitchen laundry (where he worked), and a fake badge made from a trash can lid ([08:05]).
  • His kitchen job allowed him unsupervised access to materials and exit points ([07:32]).
  • “He claims he found and collected black sharpies, and he found laundry that was lying around the kitchen… he made a fake badge using the lid of the trash can…” – Amy Robach ([08:05])

• Storage and Secrecy

  • Hardin hid the pieces of his uniform underneath trash bags at the bottom of a kitchen trash can, knowing no one ever emptied it fully ([13:17]).
  • “He actually hid it at the…bottom of the trash can because he said no one actually ever shook it… that’s kind of wild.” – Amy Robach ([13:17])

• Backup Plans

  • Brought a makeshift ladder (assembled from pallets) in case he needed to climb the fence if his direct route failed ([11:13]).

• On the Run

  • Survived nearly two weeks in the woods by drinking creek water and eating berries, ants, and bird eggs ([12:13]).
  • Only made it about a mile and a half from the prison before being captured, despite authorities believing he might have fled the state ([12:57], [13:08]).

---

Systemic Failures and Institutional Accountability

• Security Lapses

  • Hardin’s classification as something other than a maximum-security threat:
    • “This was not a maximum security prison…He has the smarts and the wherewithal and knows enough about law enforcement. You want him in a maximum security prison.” – Amy Robach ([10:23])
  • Allowed freedoms (such as working in the kitchen) and unsupervised access that should not have been given for someone of his profile ([08:05], [08:59]).

• Staff Response and Consequences

  • At least two prison employees were fired (including the tower guard and a second staffer who allowed Hardin unsupervised access to the dock); others suspended or demoted due to lax security ([07:08], [14:09], [22:08]).
  • Staff distraction was cited (“reports of guards being on the phone with girlfriends hours and hours and hours,” indicating personal business during critical shifts) ([23:45]).

---

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the Simplicity of the Escape:

  • “It's almost comical. It seems like something you would [see] from some caper movie from the 1950s, just something silly almost that would. This shouldn't be possible.”
    – T.J. Holmes ([08:59])

  • “He literally let a convicted rapist and murderer walk right out the front door…”
    – T.J. Holmes ([05:49])

• On Systemic Irony:

  • “It's so funny that Netflix decided to label him devil, devil, Devil in the Ozarks. But nah, we don't need the devil in maximum security, I guess.”
    – Amy Robach ([22:08])

• On Escape Charges:

  • “He pleaded not guilty to escape charges when we clearly see him walking out of the prison on surveillance and he was clearly caught in the woods hiding.”
    – Amy Robach ([24:40])

  • “Is it escape if someone opened the door and let you walk out?... Man, I would have been a good lawyer.”
    – T.J. Holmes ([24:53])

• On the mentality of rooting for escape artists:

  • “If someone is able to break out of prison, I'm almost rooting for them.”
    – T.J. Holmes ([09:27])

---

The Legacy of Grant Hardin and Community Response

• Who Hardin Is:

  • Convicted in 2017 of first degree murder; killed James Appleton, a fellow city employee, in a high-profile crime ([19:57]).
  • Later linked via DNA to a violent rape from 1997 of a local school teacher ([20:24]).
  • Sentenced to a total of 80 years for both crimes; has terrorized the community while simultaneously holding positions of trust ([20:24]).

• Aftermath and Fixes:

  • Hardin has been transferred to a maximum-security facility ([24:14]).
  • The escape has prompted a review and overhaul of protocols at the facility in question ([22:08]).
  • The hosts note the broader societal fascination with prison breaks and the sometimes shocking ease with which security can be circumvented ([14:17]).

---

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [02:37] Intro to Hardin’s escape, the Netflix docuseries, and the main questions
• [03:40] How the escape happened; the guard opened the gate
• [05:17] Hardin’s law enforcement background and use of moxie
• [06:18] New details from Hardin: six months of lone planning
• [08:05] How he made the disguise (Sharpies, aprons, trash can badge)
• [09:27] The hosts debate the simplicity and ethics of escape
• [10:23] Discussion on his prison misclassification
• [11:13] The backup ladder plan; unused because the escape was so easy
• [12:13] Life in the woods: food, water, being recaptured
• [13:17] Where Hardin hid his disguise (trash can strategy)
• [14:17] Broader fascination with prison breaks; commentary
• [19:57] Recap of Hardin’s main crimes; murder and later connected rape
• [22:08] Fallout for staff, policy changes, and misclassification issues
• [24:40] Hardin’s not guilty plea for escape

---

Conclusion

This episode offers a captivating, detailed look into one of the most brazen American prison breaks in recent memory. It exposes systemic vulnerabilities and the incredible cunning of a dangerous criminal. While shocking and even darkly comedic at moments, the story is a chilling reminder of how oversight and institutional complacency can have serious, real-world consequences.

---

For those looking to understand both the details of the escape and its broader significance on criminal justice and prison administration, this episode is a must-listen.

Transcript

[Amy Robach]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Brian Fraser]

You can make a difference in someone's life, including your own, with a job in home care. These jobs offer flexible schedules, healthcare, retirement options and free training. They also provide paid time off and opportunities for overtime. Visit oregonhomecarejobs.com to learn more and apply. That's oregonhomecarejobs.com.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hello, it is Ryan and I was on a flight the other day playing one of my favorite social spin slot games on chumbacasino.com I looked over the person sitting next to me and you know what they were doing. They were also playing Chumba Casino. Everybody's loving having fun with it. Chumba Casino's home to hundreds of casino style games that you can play for free anytime, anywhere. So sign up [e-mail] to claim your free welcome bonus. That's chumbacasino.com and live the Chumba Life sponsored by Chumba Casino.

[Glenn Washington]

No purchase necessary.

[Amy Robach]

VGW Group Void. We're prohibited by law 21 + terms and conditions apply.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Now through August 26th, it's back to Deals time where you can enjoy storewide deals and earn four times points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Califia Farms, Pillsbury Crescent, YoPlay, General Mills, Prego, Bertoli, Heinz and Kraft. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Can shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pickup or delivery subject to availability restrictions. Apply. Visit Albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Brian Fraser]

From the executive producers of Outlander. I know what it is to be parted. From your true love comes a new Outlander story. Blood of My Blood I'm Brian Fraser. My father detested Darius. If you don't go to him, it'll haunt you forever. Watch the new season of Blood of My Blood now. I'll find a way out. I swear it. Only on Stars in the Starz app. What if you never find her?

[Glenn Washington]

I will.

[Brian Fraser]

The Home of Outlander.

[Glenn Washington]

I'm Glenn Washington, the host of KQED's Snap Judgment podcast. And at Snap, we don't just tell stories, we live them. Every week a different journey. Like on a plane with Rihanna. A racetrack in Tijuana. A year inside an Oklahoma's encampment with real people, real voices with original music and cinematic sound. Snap Judgment from kqed. New episodes every Thursday. Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Amy Robach]

Welcome everyone. It's Saturday, August 16th, and we are finally learning about how The Devil in the Ozarks escaped from prison. This all happened late May of this year. I'm sure you remember it. We're talking about that former Arkansas police chief turned rapist and murderer. His name was Grant Hardin. And yes, Netflix devoted an entire series to him. And that series was called Devil in the Ozarks.

[TJ Holmes]

You know, I don't do. Is that a buzzy one? I actually can't remember. I. When I heard the name Devil. Yeah, I've heard of that. But do you remember much buzz around it? I actually don't.

[Amy Robach]

I remember the buzz around it after he escaped. And then everyone was like, ooh, that's the one. That's the guy that they did a Netflix series on. So, yes, they devoted an entire series to his crimes. Well, there is now a new report that is out. It was elicited by the Department of Corrections, but it's revealing some of the fascinating details surrounding his brazen prison break. Do you remember the prison break? Yeah. He walked right out the back gate.

[TJ Holmes]

Yeah. He didn't shoot his way out.

[Amy Robach]

No. He just.

[TJ Holmes]

No violence.

[Amy Robach]

Walked out.

[TJ Holmes]

Didn't he wave at the guy who. There was a tower guard who has since been fired.

[Amy Robach]

Yes.

[TJ Holmes]

Who waved. All he did was waved at him and the guy opened the gate for him.

[Amy Robach]

He acted like he knew what he was doing and he was believed. And he was disguised as a law enforcement agent. But that had a lot of folks head scratching because how was he able as a prisoner to somehow come up with a uniform that mimicked an official?

[TJ Holmes]

And let's be straight here. This is a guy who had a whole hit series dedicated to him, and you all weren't keeping a better closer eye on him than this. This is what we're talking about. This is why the story made such a big deal at the time. Wasn't just some convicted rapist or convicted murderer that was that escaped. Y' all let the guy whose nickname is the Devil of the Ozarks walk out of prison. This is a really big embarrassment at the time for those folks.

[Amy Robach]

My guess is he was the most famous prisoner in that facility. And for sure.

[TJ Holmes]

Oh, got you.

[Amy Robach]

You know, without a doubt, obviously. But the big question is, how did he do it? And what did he do for those nearly two weeks while he was on the run? A lot of folks had those questions. And we are getting some answers now.

[TJ Holmes]

And you were starting with first, the uniform. There was a uniform and a badge. So he was able to get out because he was. He walked out and showed himself with a uniform on And a badge waved to a guy in the tower and the guy opened the gate and let him walk out. So a uniform and a badge, that's.

[Amy Robach]

What you were getting at. And you know what, don't forget we mentioned at the top, but he was a police chief. He was the chief of police of a small town in Arkansas a few years earlier. So he knows how to carry himself as a law enforcement official and he knows how to carry himself as somebody who's in charge. Because you would have to have a whole lot of moxie, even if you had this makeshift uniform somehow pieced together, to be able to present yourself with enough confidence that you, you let, or make at least a tower guard believe you have every right to walk out that door.

[TJ Holmes]

Or you're a terrible tower guard. You could argue, could be a little bit of both. Right. The guy put together, and we're gonna, you're gonna explain here. Robes, what he put together, but a makeshift Sharpie uniform, and it fooled the tower guard. He literally let a convicted rapist and murderer walk right out the front door, looked at him robed, and let him do it.

[Amy Robach]

I know it's, it's appalling and it's startling and it's frightening if you live in the area. And certainly for those folks who were concerned about him, perhaps seeking some sort of revenge, were scared for at least those 12 plus days that he was out on the lam. But here is what we have learned, and this, a lot of this came from Grant Hardin himself while he was being interviewed by investigators trying to figure out how he managed to do what he did. So we know now, according to Hardin, that he, he spent six months planning his escape. So he meticulously, over a period of six months, tried to figure out how to do this. He says he didn't get any help from employees or other inmates. Do you buy that?

[TJ Holmes]

That's a big deal. Yeah. I mean, why at this point? I mean, he, I guess the one guy who was, he's now been fired. I'm really on this tower.

[Amy Robach]

Two people have been fired, several others have been suspended and someone else had some other sort of disciplinary action. But multiple people within the prison system, even though they didn't explicitly help him, certainly helped him without realizing they were helping him.

[TJ Holmes]

I believe him because of some of the more details you're going to get into here in a second that make it seem like, yeah, he was, he put this together on his own and.

[Amy Robach]

Probably smart enough to know that if you do ask somebody to help you, that person is probably either going to tell on you, snitch on you later, foil your plan in some way. So, yes, he says he was a lone wolf, and that does make a lot of sense, given honestly the fact that he was successful at it. So no help from anyone else. But he pointed to specifically, he told investigators, yeah, y', all, security is lax in the kitchen. So he was a kitchen worker. And. And he was allowed to kind of come and go as he pleased. According to him.

[TJ Holmes]

Convicted rapist, convicted murderer. Yes, he's working in the kitchen.

[Amy Robach]

Yes. And he was allowed to go unsupervised out on this back in his back area, in this side area. So he was able to do some things without anyone really watching him or noticing him. So you mentioned the sharpies. He claims he found and collected black sharpies, and he found laundry that was lying around the kitchen, and he used that. Black aprons, to be specific, to create a fake uniform. And then he made a fake badge using the lid of the trash can. Maybe that's where the sharpies came in. But it's wild to think that he pieced together slowly over six months, black aprons. Because if you see the visuals, the video surveillance video they have of him, I mean, he has black pants, black shirt, and what looks like a black vest. I mean, it from a distance looks legit. And to know that those were black aprons is kind of wild.

[TJ Holmes]

It's almost comical. It seems like something you would from some caper movie from the 1950s, just something silly almost that would. This shouldn't be possible. That someone convicted of these crimes can fool the system with these rudimentary tools. That just doesn't seem possible. This seems like this should be highly sophisticated, something from Mission Impossible. You would need help from the outside.

[Amy Robach]

Help from the outside.

[TJ Holmes]

You would need help. That. This. This is all it took. This is. This is not just some dude, sweetheart. We're six months. Give him credit. Knock yourself out. I used to. I've said this before plenty. If someone is able to break out of prison, I'm almost rooting for them.

[Amy Robach]

Oh, my goodness.

[TJ Holmes]

I say that because somebody's job is to keep you there. You. You got caught. You were convicted of your crime. It's somebody's job to make sure you don't get out. How am I supposed to fault you for being. For your desire to be free and you beat the system. Knock yourself out. I do not want somebody that. This is this kind of threat to the community out and about. Obviously, this was scary as hell and is the case as well. What is this idea, this thing about a misclassification of what kind of criminal he was? He should not have even been in this jail.

[Amy Robach]

And that is true, and that is also part of this finding, because this was not a maximum security prison. So the type of prisoner that Hardin is, was and is. And yes, a convicted rapist, a convicted murder murderer, and abused his power. You know, this was a man who was in a position of power, was a police officer, was a actual chief of police for a while. So that is deeply concerning. He has the smarts and the wherewithal and knows enough about law enforcement. You want him in a maximum security prison. So yes, by the way, we'll get to it. But he has since been moved to a maximum security prison. So, yes, he was given freedoms that he shouldn't have, period. And that has been determined. But I thought it was wild. I didn't really start looking at some of the surveillance video until I started looking at his account of how he was able to pull this all off without any help. Because, yeah, when you hear about a, a disguise, you would think someone slipped him something, but no, he actually put police in white on the back if you see in the surveillance video. But also he is carrying something when he goes to leave, he is carrying with him a ladder that he made from wooden pallets in case he had to scale the prison fence, in case someone shouted at him, stopped him from going through that gate. Instead of being able to just walk freely out, he thought he might have to literally put a ladder up and then make a run for it. So he had a backup plan to his plan already prepared with him when he was walking through. So it's wild to me. He didn't even have to use the thing he was thinking he was going to have to use to scale a.

[TJ Holmes]

Fence because that good old trustworthy tower guard up there that let him go right on through, he didn't even need to use the backup land because he had Barney Fife up there.

[Amy Robach]

Yeah, I mean, actually, so when you see that and you see the video, it's. It's startling to know that he didn't even have to use the thing he thought he was going to have to use to break out of prison. So, yes, and he also talked about how he was able to smuggle food with him. He said he, when he got out into the woods, he drank creek water. He said he ate berries, bird eggs. He said he even ate ants. And he had a plan he was going to hide out in these woods for six months. I don't know how he was going to make all that food last as long as he needed it to. And then he was going to make his way out west. That's. He had a plan. But unfortunately prison dogs picked up his scent. Unfortunately for him and fortunately for the rest of us. They caught him just a mile and a half from prison, by the way. But he did stay out there for almost two weeks.

[TJ Holmes]

You know, why is it they came out and gave us all the impression that he wasn't even in the area. For whatever reason, they suspected that he had gone over into Missouri. Was it not?

[Amy Robach]

Yes.

[TJ Holmes]

And they. It sounded like he was gone. Like the focus of their efforts didn't even seem to be right there anymore. And he was very close by the whole time.

[Amy Robach]

Yeah, he didn't even make it that far at all. Yes. They absolutely were warning folks in nearby states that he might be around. And we letting people who live nearby not to worry. But certainly, yeah, he was right there the entire time. And by the way, he was able. This is how he was saying that apparently. I did I read this right? That the trash can. Or they didn't. They didn't shake it or they didn't make sure there was nothing below some of the trash bags. Because he actually stashed, you think six months he's making this uniform. Like where does he put it? Or this fake uniform. He can't bring it back to a cell with him. They do cell checks. All that. He actually hid it at the. Or like underneath the trash bags at the bottom of the trash can because he said no one actually ever shook it and put the whole thing out. And he knew the practices of the kitchen and he knew that nobody would actually ever overturn the trash can. So he could just keep working on his little uniform, on his fake disguise for months and months and months while keeping it right under that trash can the entire time. That's kind of wild.

[TJ Holmes]

Isn't it great? We just have a fascination with prison breaks. And I think we've had some famous ones over the years. Of course. But to hear now this just isn't supposed to happen. You think we have learned enough in our prison system and there's enough sophistication. You can't. And cameras and all. You can't get past this technology. And to hear how simple it was and how almost easy, frankly it was. He had to make a uniform. He needed a sharpie. And just to wave at a guy. This was not complicated. He used no force. He didn't have to overcome anybody. And walked out. It's just fascinating. Anytime you hear about a prison break.

[Amy Robach]

And the fact that he walked out being the violent criminal that he was, that's the really scary thing. So for those of you who want a little bit of a refresher about how Grant Hardin actually became known as the Devil in the Ozarks and what happened to those employees and what's happening to him now that he's been caught.

[Home Care Job Advertiser]

You can make a difference in someone's life, including your own, with a job in home care. These jobs offer flexible schedules, health care, retirement options and free training. They also provide paid time off and opportunities for overtime. Visit oregonhomecarejobs.com to learn more and apply. That's oregonhomecarejobs.com.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Now through August 26th, it's back to Deals time, where you can enjoy storewide deals and earn four times points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Califia Farms, Pillsbury Crescent, Yoplait, General Mills, Prego, Bertoli, Heinz and Kraft. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pickup or delivery subject to availability restrictions. Apply. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.

[Home Care Job Advertiser]

Tired of spills and stains on your sofa? WashablesOfAs.com has your back featuring the Annabe Collection, the only designer sofa that's machine washable inside and out. Where designer quality meets budget friendly prices. That's right, sofas start at just $699. Enjoy a no risk experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slipcovers made with performance fabrics. Experience cloud like comfort with high resilience foam that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing. The sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime. Check out washablesofas.com and get up to 60% off your annabe sofa backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not absolutely in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping or restocking fees. Every penny back. Upgrade [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Brian Fraser]

From the executive producers of Outlander I know what it is to be parted. From your true love comes a new Outlander story. Blood of My Blood I'm Brian Fraser. My father detested Darius. If you don't go to him, it'll haunt you forever. Watch the new season of blood of my blood Now I'll find a way out of I swear it Only on Starz. In the Starz app, what if you never find her?

[Glenn Washington]

I will.

[Brian Fraser]

Stars the home of Outlander.

[Glenn Washington]

I'm Glenn Washington, the host of KQED's Snap Judgment podcast. And at Snap, we don't just tell stories, we live them. Every week a different journey, like on a plane with Rihanna, a racetrack in Tijuana, a year inside an Oakland homeless encampment.

[TJ Holmes]

Race.

[Glenn Washington]

Real people, real voices with original music and cinematic sound. Snap Judgment from kqed. New episodes every Thursday. Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Amy Robach]

Welcome back, everyone, to this edition of Amy and tj. We are talking about these new details that are just now making our way to us about how Devil in the Ozarks, convicted murderer and rapist Grant Hardin, former Arkansas police chief, how he was able to walk right out of prison and elude police for nearly two weeks before being recaptured. He actually participated in this investigation because there are a lot of questions about how this all happened, how he's able to make this disguise and just escape in the middle of the day in plain sight with very little effort. It's appalling. And certainly a lot of folks had to pay for their participation, even if it was unknowingly into allowing him to escape. But just to go back a little bit about who this guy is, this is a man who pleaded guilty back in October of 2017 to first degree murder. He basically shot a fellow city employee in the head. His name was 59. Well, he was 59 years old. His name was James Appleton. And he was actually on the phone with the current mayor at the time, who was his brother in law when the gunshot went off. So this was a unbelievable crime that happened in the small town of Gateway. He worked for the water department. And again just the year prior, Hardin was the chief of police. So these two knew each other.

[TJ Holmes]

I mean, so this isn't even the devil part, right? So you hear this and how heinous this crime was. But the reason Roy ends up getting famous, if you will, with this documentary is because while he's in jail, they figure out there was something he's connected to. How, how far back was that crime? He was connected to a rape that was unsolved. How many years before?

[Amy Robach]

It was 30 years earlier. So while he was behind bars facing charges of first degree murder for the shooting death of James Appleton, police matched his DNA from a 1997 rape case of an elementary school teacher in Rogers. It was a big crime at the Time it was completely unsolved, unknown. But this was a violent, horrific rape. And, and the fact that he then gets connected to it and he goes on, think about it. He's committed these horrific crimes and he's chief of police. So he's just operating right there in a position of power in a town where he has actually terrorized the area for several decades now. So this was just an eerie, evil one of those stories where you can't believe the person living next to you or working with you actually is an evil monster. And that's exactly what the case was with this man. So yes, when he got then connected to this violent rape. So he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder, then he was given another 50 years for the rape. So he's in prison for the rest of his life, a violent criminal again, who is intelligent, who has mimicked seeming normal and has had positions of power within a community. So this is a scary, dangerous individual. The fact that he was allowed into a not maximum security prison is wild.

[TJ Holmes]

Over a misclassification, as they say. I guess we'll figure out what that means. But for whatever reason, he wasn't labeled as the type of criminal he should have been labeled as somewhere in the system and therefore he was able to go to a not maximum security prison. That's just bizarre.

[Amy Robach]

And it's so funny that Netflix decided to label him devil, devil, Devil in the Ozarks. But nah, we don't need the devil in maximum security, I guess. But a lot of changes. So the whole point of this investigation, the whole reason why we're getting some of this information, some of these fascinating details, is because, yes, that community there in Arkansas would like to make some changes so that this never happens again. But yes, two prison employees were ultimately fired and certainly the one, your favorite one on the the tower guard, but there was another one who allowed him back on that dock unsupervised multiple times over those six months, which allowed him to collect laundry, allowed him to collect some of the things he used to make his disguise. So because he was allowed unsupervised on a back dock, which he should not have been, that employee was fired. The tower guard was fired. And they said they didn't give a number, but they said several other employees have either been suspended or demoted just because of the lax security claims.

[TJ Holmes]

Hey, look, I want to always take a beat robes to always be fair to folks and been a little harsh on that tower guard. I don't know what was going on at the time and how that person might have been fooled. Don't want to just pass it off to total incompetence and ignorance. So I don't know what was going on, but that was a tough position that person was getting put in to be literally the person. Yes. Other people contributed, but there was one person who literally unlocked the door and let the devil of the Ozarks walk out. And that was the tower of guard. And that can't be easy. And, and so I don't know, maybe give everybody a break there.

[Amy Robach]

There was word and they did they when they were doing some of the, I guess forensics behind the scenes as to how it happened, the way it happened. They did say that there were reports of guards being on the phone with girlfriends hours and hours and hours. So they were preoccupied with personal matters while on the job in a professional setting where their job was to make sure that prisoners didn't e but they.

[TJ Holmes]

Didn'T need to worry about it because all the prisoners here are just medium security prisoners.

[Amy Robach]

Oh, yes. There was some distraction that was noted in the report by some of the guards who had other priorities while on the job. Yes. So that that was mentioned, I must say. But Hardin. Yes. Has been moved to a maximum security prison. And here's the interesting thing to me, I know this is what you do when you're a defendant, but it's just it kind of made me chuckle to hear that he pleaded not guilty to escape charges.

[TJ Holmes]

Yes.

[Amy Robach]

Don't really understand how that is a thing. But he pleaded not guilty to escape charges when we clearly see him walking out of the prison on surveillance and he was clearly caught in the woods hiding.

[TJ Holmes]

Is it escape if someone opened the door and let you walk out?

[Amy Robach]

I guess that could be the argument.

[TJ Holmes]

Man, I would have been a good lawyer.

[Amy Robach]

But anyway, he does have a trial date set for those charges that is going to happen in November. So we will of course continue to follow the story. But it's just fascinating to hear how it happened because at the time it really didn't make any sense. Making a lot more sense now when you see some of the things that happened leading up to that unfortunate day in May. But we want to thank you for joining us on this Saturday edition of Amy and tj. I'm Amy Robach alongside my partner TJ Holmes. Have a great rest of your day, everybody.

[TJ Holmes]

Foreign.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Now through August 26th, it's back to deals time where you can enjoy store wide deals and earn four times points. Look for in store. Tags to earn on eligible items from Kettle, Haagen, Dazs, M&M's Ritz, Chips Ahoy, Arrowhead, All Poppy, Charman and Red Bull. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Shop in store or online for easy drive up and go. Pickup or delivery subject to availability restrictions apply. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.

[Brian Fraser]

From the executive producers of Outlander I know what it is to be parted. From your true love comes a new Outlander story. Blood of My Blood. I'm Brian Fraser. My father detested Darius. If you don't go to him, it'll haunt you forever. Watch the new season of Blood of My Blood now. I'll find a way out. I swear it. Only on Stars in the Stars app. What if you never find her?

[Glenn Washington]

I will.

[Brian Fraser]

Stars the home of Outlander.

[Glenn Washington]

I'm Gwen Washington, the host of Snap Judgment from kqed. Every week we don't just tell stories, we drop you inside them. Real people, real voices, real moments that split a life in two. What do you believe? What do you risk? What do you want? Snap Judgment. New episodes every Thursday. Wherever you get your podcast.

[Amy Robach]

Legendswithaz.com is a 100% free to play social casino and sportsbook where you can spin the reels, make game predictions and even play live blackjack without leaving your couch.

[TJ Holmes]

Yes, slots, sports, original games. Legends has it all. Life is busy. Look, we could all use a little bit of an escape.

[Amy Robach]

So when you are ready for the best free to play excitement around. Check out legends with a Z.com and see why. It's one of the most popular entertainment platforms in the world.

[TJ Holmes]

Popular because it's always free to play and always so much fun. Sign up and see why. Legends with a Z.com is legendary fun.

[Amy Robach]

New users get a 50% bonus on their first purchase.

[TJ Holmes]

No purchase necessary. Legends International void where prohibited by law 18 and over. Terms and conditions apply. The Disney Hulu HBO Max Bundle Plan starting at just $16.99 a month.

[Glenn Washington]

No one will ever break us apart.

[TJ Holmes]

Catch Marvel Studios Thunderbolts the New Avengers on Disney.

[Brian Fraser]

You can't escape the past.

[Glenn Washington]

Alien Earth on Hulu this ship collected.

[TJ Holmes]

Monsters and final destination Bloodlines on HBO Max.

[Brian Fraser]

Death is coming for our family.

[TJ Holmes]

The Disney Hulu HBO Max Bundle plan starting at 2016.99amonth. All these and more streaming soon. Visit Disney plus Hulu HBO Max bundle.com for details.

[Amy Robach]

This is an iHeart podcast.