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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.
