June 6, 2025
After nearly two weeks on the run, Grant Hardin, a former police chief convicted of murder and rape, was apprehended approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the Calico Rock prison in northern Arkansas. Hardin, dubbed the “Devil in the Ozarks,” had escaped from the North Central Unit on May 25, 2025, by impersonating a corrections officer and walking out of the facility unnoticed.
Hardin, 56, was serving a 30-year sentence for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and a 50-year sentence for the 1997 rape of a schoolteacher, crimes that garnered national attention and were featured in a 2023 HBO Max documentary.
The escape prompted an extensive manhunt involving bloodhounds, drones, helicopters, and assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC). Authorities had feared Hardin might exploit his knowledge of law enforcement tactics and the rugged Ozark terrain to evade capture.
Hardin’s capture was confirmed through fingerprint analysis. The Arkansas Department of Corrections is investigating the security lapse that allowed his escape, particularly the failure to verify his identity as he exited the prison.
With Hardin back in custody, officials have assured the public that there is no longer an active threat to safety.
