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The manhunt for Grant Hardin, a former Arkansas police chief convicted of murder and rape, has gripped national headlines. Authorities continue searching the rugged Ozark Mountains days after his daring prison escape. 

Described as a “sociopath” and “evil” by those who knew him, Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, on Sunday, May 25, 2025, by impersonating a corrections officer.

A Calculated Escape

Hardin’s escape was as chilling as it was audacious. According to a probable cause affidavit, he dressed like a corrections officer and pushed a loading cart through a secured gate, fooling a prison guard into letting him walk out.

“Inmate Hardin impersonated a corrections officer in dress and manner, causing the corrections officer operating the gate to open the gate and allow inmate Hardin to walk away,” the affidavit filed in Izard County court reads.

Authorities later clarified that Hardin’s outfit was not an official Department of Corrections uniform but rather something homemade or smuggled in.

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A Timeline of Violent Crimes

Hardin’s criminal history stretches back decades. Below is a timeline of the events that led to his 80-year prison sentence:

• Feb. 23, 2017 – James Appleton, a city worker in Garfield, Arkansas, was shot in the head and left in a vehicle. Prosecutors identified Hardin as the killer.
• October 2017 – Hardin pleads guilty to Appleton’s murder and receives a 30-year sentence. No motive was ever provided.
• Feb. 8, 2019 – While serving time for murder, Hardin is linked via DNA to a 1997 rape of a Rogers elementary school teacher. He pleads guilty and receives an additional 50-year sentence.
• May 2023 – HBO Max releases Devil in the Ozarks, a real-crime documentary chronicling the teacher’s rape and the decades-long investigation.
  “He’s extremely dangerous. He’s already proven that he has no moral core or center,” said Nathan Smith, the former Benton County prosecutor who helped convict Hardin, in an interview with KHBS.

A Town Gripped by Fear and Anger

The small town of Gateway, Arkansas—where Hardin once served briefly as police chief—is still grappling with the fallout of his crimes and escape.

“He’s an evil man,” said Cheryl Tilman, the current mayor of Gateway and sister of James Appleton, in a televised interview. “He should never have been in a position of authority. And now he’s loose.”

The Search Expands in Manhunt for Grant Hardin

As of May 28, the search continues. The U.S. Marshals Eastern Arkansas Fugitive Task Force is now involved, assisting the Izard County Sheriff’s Office. Multiple agencies are searching vehicles and homes in the area around the North Central Unit.

“An active search remains in effect involving a number of law enforcement agencies from across the state,” an Arkansas Department of Corrections spokesperson said during a press conference.

Officials expressed confidence that Hardin remains in the general vicinity of the prison. Authorities have urged the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity.

Authorities Warn: Do Not Approach

Hardin is considered armed and dangerous, although it is unknown if he has acquired a weapon since his escape. Residents are urged not to approach him and to call 911 immediately if he is spotted.

As the manhunt for Grant Hardin continues, Arkansas law enforcement and local communities remain on high alert. The chilling nature of his crimes and the ease of his escape have left the public questioning how such a dangerous individual could so easily slip through the cracks.

'Sociopath': Former Arkansas police chief sentenced for murder and rape escapes from prison - ABC News

'Evil man': Search continues for ex-police chief who escaped Arkansas prison - ABC News