Calico Rock, AR – Grant Hardin, the former Gateway, Arkansas, police chief convicted of murder and rape, was recaptured on June 6, 2025, ending a nearly two-week manhunt that gripped north-central Arkansas. Known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock on May 25, 2025, prompting a massive search involving multiple agencies and leaving communities on edge, particularly in nearby Batesville, about 30 miles away.
The Capture
The Izard County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Hardin was apprehended around 3:45 p.m. on Friday, June 6, approximately 1.5 miles west of the prison grounds near Moccasin Creek in Izard County. Authorities used tracking dogs, which picked up Hardin’s scent, leading to his discovery in the rugged Ozark terrain. His identity was verified through fingerprint analysis, ensuring no doubt about the capture. The Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) announced, “Escaped inmate Grant Hardin has been recaptured and was taken into custody shortly after 3 p.m. on Friday, June 6,” expressing gratitude to the community and law enforcement for their support.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised the operation, stating, “Arkansans can breathe a sigh of relief. I am grateful for local, state, and federal law enforcement and give special thanks to the Trump administration and [Secretary Kristi Noem] for sending Border Patrol who helped track and apprehend Hardin.” The U.S. Border Patrol’s tactical unit, BORTAC, from Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, played a key role in the final stages of the search, leveraging their expertise in navigating challenging terrain.
The Escape and Manhunt
Hardin escaped on May 25 at approximately 2:55 p.m., disguised in a makeshift outfit designed to mimic a corrections officer’s uniform. Surveillance footage showed him pushing a cart through a sally port, tricking a guard into opening a secure gate. The ADC clarified that the uniform was not standard issue, and investigators are probing whether Hardin’s kitchen job at the prison provided access to materials used to craft the disguise. His law enforcement background, including a brief stint as Gateway’s police chief in 2016, likely aided his planning, giving him insight into search operations.
The manhunt, centered in Izard and Stone counties, involved the Arkansas State Police, FBI, U.S. Marshals, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and local sheriff’s offices. Authorities deployed K-9 units, drones, ATVs, and horseback searches, battling rocky terrain, dense woods, and caves that offered Hardin potential hideouts. A combined $25,000 reward—$20,000 from the FBI and $5,000 from the U.S. Marshals—was offered for information leading to his capture, though it’s unclear if anyone will claim it. Tips, including a sighting near a “faded red car” in Howell County, Missouri, and another in Faulkner County, Arkansas, kept searchers on high alert, but Hardin remained elusive until his capture near the prison.
Community Impact
Hardin’s escape heightened fear in small towns like Gateway, where he was convicted of murdering James Appleton, a 59-year-old water department worker, in 2017, and in Rogers, where his DNA linked him to the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher. Gateway Mayor Cheryl Tillman, Appleton’s sister, expressed relief at Hardin’s capture, stating, “I’m grateful no one was hurt and that everyone did a great job looking for him.” She had previously shared her anxiety, saying, “My heart just sank,” and admitted to keeping a loaded gun at home during the manhunt. The escape reopened old wounds for Tillman’s family, with her husband, former Mayor Andrew Tillman, haunted by being on the phone with Appleton when Hardin shot him.
In Batesville and surrounding areas, residents locked doors and stayed vigilant, heeding warnings from the Izard County Sheriff’s Office to report suspicious activity. Social media posts on X reflected the region’s tension, with updates like, “Updated mugshot released of Grant Hardin who escaped an Arkansas prison last Sunday,” and relief when news broke of his capture: “JUST IN: Police in Mountain View and the Stone County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that escaped inmate Grant Hardin has been captured.”
Hardin’s Criminal History
Hardin’s crimes shocked Arkansas communities. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for shooting Appleton in the head, offering no motive despite Appleton’s reputation as a beloved community member. While incarcerated, his DNA matched evidence from the 1997 rape of Amy Harrison, a Rogers teacher, leading to additional convictions for rape and kidnapping, with a combined sentence of 50 years. Former Benton County prosecutor Nathan Smith called Hardin a “sociopath,” warning of his extreme danger. The 2023 HBO documentary “Devil in the Ozarks” detailed his crimes, cementing his notorious moniker.
Aftermath and Next Steps
Hardin now faces additional charges of second-degree escape in Izard County and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The ADC is conducting an internal investigation to determine how Hardin obtained his disguise and exploited security protocols, aiming to prevent future escapes. Director of Corrections Dexter Payne commended the joint operation, saying, “This was a great joint operation by a number of agencies, and I’m so thankful for their tireless efforts.”
The recapture brings relief to Northeast Arkansas, including Batesville, where Hardin’s proximity had fueled unease. Chairman of the Board of Corrections Benny Magness added, “I’m so proud of our department staff and all the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for being steadfast as they always are.” As the region moves forward, the focus shifts to ensuring Hardin remains securely confined and addressing vulnerabilities exposed by his escape.
For updates, visit dps.arkansas.gov or contact the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Residents with information on related incidents are urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips at tips.fbi.gov.
