Former Police Chief, Who Was Convicted of Rape and Murder, Found After 2 Weeks on the Run Following Prison Escape

A former police chief, who was convicted of rape and murder, has been found after he escaped prison and was on the run for two weeks.

Grant Hardin, also known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” was captured by authorities 1.5 miles away from the Calico Rock North Central Unit in Arkansas, where he had been held since 2017, on Friday, June 6, the Izard County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) said in a news release shared on Facebook.

Hardin’s identity was confirmed through fingerprinting, per police.

“We sincerely appreciate the continued support of the community for all law enforcement and Department of Corrections personnel involved in this operation,” the ICSO said in a statement.

According to a statement from the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Hardin was wearing “a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement” during his escape. Officials confirmed he was not wearing a DOC uniform and said that all DOC-issued equipment had been accounted for.

A prison officer in one of the guard towers opened a secure gate that allowed Hardin to freely exit, the Associated Press reported, citing a court document.

Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the state prison system, told the outlet that the lack of verification of Hardin’s credentials was a “lapse” and would be investigated.

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Hardin was the former police chief for the city of Gateway, Ark. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to murder after fatally shooting 59-year-old James Appleton, who worked in the city of Gateway’s water department, CBS News, 5News and The New York Times reported, citing an affidavit.

The legal document states that Hardin murdered Appleton in February 2017 after pulling up to his parked car and shooting him through the window while the victim was on the phone, according to the Times. A motive remains unknown.

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While serving his 30-year murder sentence, Hardin also pleaded guilty to the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers, Ark., 5 News reported. Hardin was tied to the long-unsolved crime after authorities linked him to DNA taken from the victim’s clothes, authorities said, per the outlet.

According to authorities, the victim said Hardin pointed a gun at her and raped her after she exited the school restroom, the Times reported. He was sentenced to 50 years for that crime, per the Associated Press.

Reacting to Hardin’s capture, Secretary of Corrections Lindsay Wallace said, “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 added, “To every one of our Department staff that assisted in this manhunt over the last 13 days, I give my heartfelt thank you for your immeasurable contributions to bring this search to a peaceful conclusion.”