Authorities across multiple jurisdictions are engaged in an urgent manhunt for Grant Hardin, a former police chief convicted of murder and rape, who escaped from prison on Sunday afternoon. The Arkansas Department of Corrections confirmed that Hardin, 56, escaped at approximately 3:40 p.m. local time from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, where he had been serving a combined 80-year sentence.
Escape Details
Officials said Hardin shed his prison uniform and donned a makeshift outfit resembling law enforcement gear, enabling him to flee undetected. It remains unclear how he obtained or constructed the outfit.
Hardin was last seen on prison grounds before vanishing. As of Tuesday morning, he remains at large, and authorities have issued a statewide alert, warning residents that he may still be disguised as a law enforcement officer. “He is extremely dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call local law enforcement immediately,” the Department of Corrections said.
A multitude of local, state, and federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, have joined the search.
Background on Grant Hardin
Hardin briefly served as the chief of police in Gateway, Arkansas, a small town near the Missouri border, for about four months in 2016. His career unraveled after he was arrested and later pleaded guilty in 2017 to first-degree murder for the execution-style shooting of James Appleton, a 59-year-old employee of the town’s water department.
Appleton was killed in his vehicle while speaking with then-Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman, who was also his brother-in-law. The motive behind the killing has never been fully disclosed.
While serving time for that murder, DNA evidence linked Hardin to a previously unsolved 1997 rape case. In November 1997, Amy Harrison was raped at gunpoint at Frank Tillery Elementary School in Rogers, Arkansas, after stepping out of class to use the restroom. Hardin was later charged and pleaded guilty, receiving an additional 50-year sentence.
Security Concerns and Broader Context
Hardin’s escape comes just weeks after 10 inmates escaped from a Louisiana prison through a wall breach behind a toilet—raising serious concerns about prison security protocols across multiple states.
Prison officials have not yet explained how Hardin was able to acquire the materials for his disguise or bypass existing security measures at the North Central Unit, a medium-security prison.
Public Warning
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and not approach Hardin if spotted. He is described as:
- White male
- 56 years old
- Approximately 6 feet tall
- Last seen in a fake law enforcement outfit
Tip lines have been activated, and anyone with relevant information is encouraged to call the Arkansas State Police or U.S. Marshals Service.
