A high-profile Arkansas prison escape has come to an end. Grant Hardin, the former Gateway police chief convicted of murder and rape, was recaptured Friday afternoon nearly two weeks after his escape, according to the Izard County Sheriff’s Office.
Hardin, 56, was found approximately 1.5 miles west of the Calico Rock North Central Unit, where he had escaped on May 25. His identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis.
How the Arkansas Prison Escape Happened
Hardin managed the Arkansas prison escape by donning a corrections officer’s uniform and pulling a cart through a sally port—a secure entryway in the prison—without raising suspicion. Once outside, he vanished, triggering an intensive search operation.
Authorities deployed helicopters, drones, and K9 units to track the fugitive. The U.S. Border Patrol’s elite tactical unit, BORTAC, was flown in from Texas to aid in the manhunt.
Law Enforcement Response and Capture
The Arkansas Department of Corrections reported that tracking dogs picked up Hardin’s scent near Moccasin Creek in Izard County. He was arrested shortly after 3 p.m. local time.
“This search came to a peaceful conclusion thanks to coordinated efforts across multiple agencies,” said Arkansas Secretary of Corrections Lindsay Wallace.
Hardin’s Criminal History
Hardin pleaded guilty in 2017 to the first-degree murder of 59-year-old James Appleton. He was also convicted of raping an elementary school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1997—a case featured in the 2023 documentary Devil in the Ozarks.
The combined convictions earned him a 30-year prison sentence.
Public Officials React
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed her relief following Hardin’s capture, specifically praising the collaboration between local, state, and federal authorities.
“Thanks to the great work of local, state and federal law enforcement, Arkansans can breathe a sigh of relief,” she said. “Violent criminal Grant Hardin is back in custody.”
She also thanked the Trump administration for deploying federal resources that were “instrumental in tracking and apprehending Hardin.”
Public on Edge During Manhunt
During the search, officials urged Izard County residents to lock their doors and remain alert.
“I am very scared that this guy is going to hurt or kill somebody before this is over with,” Stone County Sheriff Brandon Long told the media during the manhunt.
Nathan Smith, the former prosecutor who helped convict Hardin, called him “a sociopath”, underscoring the threat he posed while on the run.
Reward and Final Remarks
A $25,000 reward offered by the FBI and U.S. Marshals helped generate leads during the extensive search.
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The swift recapture of Grant Hardin closes a frightening chapter for Arkansas residents and highlights the critical role of inter-agency cooperation in bringing fugitives to justice.
