WhatsApp Channel Join Now CALICO ROCK, Ark. — A former Arkansas police chief, convicted of murder and rape, was apprehended on June 6, 2025, after escaping from a state prison and evading authorities for two weeks. Grant Hardin, 51, known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” was captured 1.5 miles from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, where he had been serving sentences since 2017, according to a news release from the Izard County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) posted on Facebook.
Authorities confirmed Hardin’s identity through fingerprinting. “We sincerely appreciate the continued support of the community for all law enforcement and Department of Corrections personnel involved in this operation,” the ICSO stated. The Arkansas Department of Corrections reported that Hardin escaped wearing a makeshift outfit resembling a law enforcement uniform, not the standard Department of Corrections attire. All issued equipment was accounted for, officials said.
According to the Associated Press, citing court documents, Hardin’s escape was facilitated when a prison officer in a guard tower opened a secure gate without verifying his credentials. Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system, described the incident as a “lapse” and confirmed an investigation is underway, as reported by the Associated Press on June 6, 2025.
Hardin, previously the police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, pleaded guilty in 2017 to the murder of James Appleton, a 59-year-old city water department employee. According to an affidavit cited by The New York Times on June 6, 2025, Hardin shot Appleton through his car window in February 2017 while the victim was on the phone. No motive has been disclosed. Hardin was serving a 30-year sentence for the murder.
Additionally, Hardin pleaded guilty to the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas, according to 5 News on June 6, 2025. DNA evidence linked him to the crime, which had remained unsolved for years. The New York Times reported that Hardin assaulted the victim at gunpoint after she left a school restroom, leading to a 50-year sentence, per the Associated Press.
Secretary of Corrections Lindsay Wallace praised the efforts of law enforcement in a statement on June 6, 2025: “I’m incredibly appreciative to all of our dedicated law enforcement agencies that spent countless hours, both day and night, sacrificing their time, utilizing their resources, and lending their invaluable expertise to this search.” She also thanked Department staff for their “immeasurable contributions to bring this search to a peaceful conclusion.”
This report is based on verified updates from the CBS News, The New York Times, 5 News, and other reputable news organizations as of June 7, 2025. All facts in this article have been rigorously verified using multiple credible sources current as of today’s date.
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