Convicted Murderer and Former Police Chief Grant Hardin Recaptured Near Arkansas Prison After Nearly Two Weeks on the Run

Grant Hardin, a former police chief convicted of murder and rape, was apprehended approximately 1.5 miles from the Calico Rock prison in Arkansas, nearly two weeks after his escape on May 25, 2025. Hardin had fled the North Central Unit by impersonating a corrections officer, exploiting a security lapse that allowed him to exit through a controlled entry point while pulling a cart.

A Notorious Past and a Daring Escape

Known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” a moniker popularized by a 2023 HBO Max documentary, Hardin’s criminal history includes a 30-year sentence for the 2017 murder of James Appleton, a Gateway water department employee, and a 50-year sentence for a 1997 rape case solved through DNA evidence in 2019.

His escape triggered an extensive manhunt involving local law enforcement, the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and the elite Border Patrol Tactical Team (BORTAC). The search faced challenges due to the rugged terrain of the Ozark Mountains and adverse weather conditions.

Capture and Aftermath

On June 6, authorities located Hardin hiding near Moccasin Creek in Izard County. Upon approach, he attempted to flee but was quickly subdued. His identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis.

The escape has prompted scrutiny of prison security protocols, particularly concerning the ease with which Hardin obtained a uniform and impersonated staff. Investigations are ongoing to determine potential lapses and prevent future incidents.

Hardin’s recapture brings relief to the community and the victims’ families, concluding a tense chapter in Arkansas’s criminal justice history.