Bloodhounds hunting ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ fugitive are seen as key part of manhunt

By JEFF MARTIN, ANDREW DeMILLO and SAFIYAH RIDDLE

A bloodhound picked up the scent shortly after the “ Devil in the Ozarks ” escaped from a lockup in northern Arkansas. The hound didn’t have to go far to begin the hunt — it lives at the prison as part of a specialized unit that uses man’s best friend to help track fugitives.

Although the scent of convicted killer Grant Hardin was lost because of heavy rain, experts say that even days after Sunday’s escape, the animal’s highly developed...