A statewide manhunt is underway in Arkansas after former police chief Grant Hardin escaped from the North Central Unit prison, where he was serving a 30-year sentence for murder and rape. The Arkansas Department of Corrections announced Hardin’s escape on Sunday, revealing that he disguised himself in a makeshift law enforcement outfit to evade capture. Authorities said Hardin was not wearing a Department of Corrections uniform, and all official equipment remains accounted for.
Hardin’s record is a grim one. The former police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, pleaded guilty in 2017 to first-degree murder for the 2017 shooting of 59-year-old James Appleton, who worked for the Gateway water department. Appleton was gunned down while speaking with his brother-in-law, the town’s then-mayor, Andrew Tillman.
Hardin’s crimes didn’t stop there. While serving time for murder, DNA evidence linked him to the 1997 rape and kidnapping of elementary school teacher Amy Harrison, who was attacked at gunpoint in a school bathroom. The unsolved case had haunted investigators for two decades until Hardin’s DNA, taken upon his incarceration, matched the crime scene. He pleaded guilty in 2018 and was sentenced to an additional 50 years behind bars.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections has confirmed they are using every available resource to track down Hardin and are investigating how the escape occurred. Officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and contact law enforcement with any information regarding Hardin’s whereabouts.
Hardin’s escape has raised serious concerns about prison security protocols, particularly in handling dangerous inmates with a history of violence. As the search continues, residents across Arkansas are on edge, and law enforcement is racing to ensure Hardin is recaptured before he can harm anyone else.
Hardin’s daring escape has left the local community shocked and fearful. Residents in surrounding areas have been urged to stay alert, with some expressing anger and frustration over how a convicted murderer and rapist managed to slip away from a state prison. The Department of Corrections has not yet revealed how Hardin obtained materials to disguise himself as law enforcement, raising questions about internal security lapses at the North Central Unit. As the search intensifies, the focus remains on capturing Hardin before he can commit further harm.
