By F. Dayo Olusola | M10News | June 7, 2025
A former Arkansas police chief convicted of both rape and murder has been recaptured nearly two weeks after he escaped from a state prison, triggering a multi-agency manhunt.
Grant Hardin, 56, was taken into custody on Friday just 1.5 miles west of the North Central Unit, the medium-security prison he fled on May 25 while disguised in a homemade law enforcement uniform. Authorities say he impersonated a corrections officer to bypass security measures.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections confirmed that Hardin was located near a creek in Izard County after U.S. Border Patrol agents and local law enforcement used tracking dogs to trace his scent through rugged terrain.
His identity was verified through fingerprint analysis following his arrest.
“This was a coordinated and determined effort by multiple law enforcement agencies,” said Secretary of Corrections Lindsay Wallace. “To every one of our Department staff that assisted in this manhunt over the last 13 days, I give my heartfelt thank you for your immeasurable contributions to bring this search to a peaceful conclusion.”
Hardin’s escape sent shockwaves through Arkansas law enforcement. According to an affidavit, he was able to convince a corrections officer to open a secure gate by dressing and acting like a prison staffer. Surveillance footage released earlier showed Hardin in all black, pushing a wheeled cart stacked with wooden pallets.
His background in law enforcement made him a particularly elusive fugitive, officials said. “He knew exactly how to exploit our systems,” said Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Hardin previously served as police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, in 2016, and had brief tenures as a county constable, police officer, and even a corrections officer.
His employment history also includes time with the Fayetteville Police Department in the early 1990s, though he was released during the training phase.
He was convicted in two separate high-profile cases. In 2017, he was sentenced to 30 years for the murder of city water department worker James Appleton.
A year earlier, DNA evidence linked him to the 1997 rape of schoolteacher Amy Harrison — a case that had remained cold for nearly two decades. He received a 50-year sentence for that crime. Both cases were prominently featured in the 2023 Max documentary Devil in the Ozarks.
During the search, authorities offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Hardin’s capture. The FBI, Arkansas State Police, Department of Justice, and several local agencies took part in the extensive manhunt.
Law enforcement experts say the escape raises questions about security protocols at state correctional facilities, particularly for inmates with a history of working in law enforcement.
Hardin is now back in custody at a secure facility, and an internal review of the escape is underway.
Sources:
– Arkansas Department of Corrections, June 2025
– Izard County Sheriff’s Office statement
– NBC affiliate KNWA (Fayetteville)
– FBI and DOJ joint press releases
– Max Documentary Devil in the Ozarks (2023)
Published by: https://m10news.com
By: F. Dayo Olusola
Category: US News | Crime | Corrections
