Ex-Police Chief Convicted of Rape and Murder Escapes Prison Disguised as Guard

Authorities in Arkansas are intensifying their search for Grant Hardin, a former police chief turned convicted killer and rapist, who escaped from the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock on Sunday, May 26. Hardin, once known as a trusted figure in the town of Gateway, has now become infamous as the “Devil in the Ozarks.”

Hardin was serving a combined 80-year sentence for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and a 1997 rape of a schoolteacher when he staged his escape by impersonating a corrections officer.

Surveillance footage shows Hardin dressed in a convincing outfit not part of any official prison or guard uniform, and walking through a secure gate opened for him by a prison officer.

Rand Champion, spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, admitted authorities are still trying to determine how Hardin acquired the uniform-like clothing. “There’s nothing inside the prison that looks like that,” he said.

The escape is drawing comparisons to another high-profile incident just days earlier, when 10 inmates broke out of a New Orleans jail through a hole behind a toilet. Eight of those escapees have since been recaptured. Hardin’s flight, however, poses unique challenges due to the rugged terrain surrounding the prison.

Victims’ Families on Edge

The escape has deeply shaken the families of Hardin’s victims. Cheryl Tillman, whose brother James Appleton was murdered by Hardin, told the Associated Press that the news reawakened years of grief and fear.

“We were there at his trial. He saw us. He knows us,” Tillman said. “He’s just an evil man. He is no good for society.”

Prosecutor Bryan Sexton, who secured convictions against Hardin for both murder and rape, said his office has been contacting victims’ families and officers involved in the original investigations. “To remind people of that trauma after all these years weighs heavily,” he said.

The manhunt has expanded across northern Arkansas, with authorities using drones, helicopters, and K-9 units to comb the rocky Ozark terrain. Heavy rainfall in the area has made search efforts even more difficult.

“The topography is challenging. There are cliffs, caves, and dense woods,” Champion said. “At the same time, it limits where he’s able to go.”

Retired U.S. Marshals inspector Craig Caine noted that while rural escapes may seem strategic, fugitives often run out of supplies and are more easily recognized by tight-knit local communities.

Izard County Sheriff Charley Melton urged residents to remain vigilant, lock their doors and vehicles, and report anything suspicious to 911. Local business owners are also on edge.

“He was always just one of the kids, a member of the community,” said Darla Nix, a café owner in nearby Pea Ridge whose sons grew up with Hardin. “But he’s very smart. He knows where the caves are. He knows how to survive. Law enforcement is going to have their hands full.”

Hardin’s crimes have previously been the focus of the 2023 documentary Devil in the Ozarks, which detailed his transformation from respected officer to convicted felon. He had been held at Calico Rock — a medium-security facility with around 800 inmates — since his conviction in 2017.

Authorities are urging the public to remain alert and report any sightings immediately.