Escaped Arkansas Murderer Grant Hardin Captured Near Prison After Disguising Himself as Law Enforcement Officer

Killer Grant Hardin has been recaptured after nearly two weeks on the run

Grant Hardin, a convicted murderer and rapist who once served as a police chief in Gateway, Arkansas, has been recaptured after escaping from the Arkansas Department of Corrections’ Calico Rock facility (formerly the North Central Unit) on May 25. The escape prompted a manhunt that concluded with his arrest just one mile from the prison, where he had been hiding in the woods.

Hardin, whose crimes were the focus of the true-crime documentary Devil in the Ozarks, had been serving a 30-year sentence for first-degree murder in addition to a separate sentence for rape. Despite being housed in the maximum-security wing of the facility, Hardin managed to flee by disguising himself as a law enforcement officer.

Police picked Hardin up a mere 1.5 miles from the prison he escaped from

According to Arkansas Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness, a specialized tracking unit from the U.S. Border Patrol was brought in to assist local authorities in the manhunt. The fugitive was eventually located and apprehended without incident in a wooded area near the prison.

Officials are currently investigating whether Hardin’s kitchen job inside the prison played a role in facilitating his escape. The investigation will explore whether the position granted him access to materials that allowed him to fabricate a believable uniform.

Hardin escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock. His escape terrified communities and sparked a massive multi-agency dragnet

Security footage and official accounts reveal that Hardin used a food cart and wore a makeshift officer uniform to approach a secure door. A prison guard opened the gate, unknowingly allowing him to walk free. He remained undetected for approximately 20 minutes before correctional staff realized he was missing. No other inmates were involved or escaped during the incident.

Prior to his capture, Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert J. Hammons wrote in a federal criminal complaint that there had been two unconfirmed sightings of Hardin, including one in Missouri. The report suggested that Hardin might have left the state to avoid recapture and emphasized his extensive knowledge of the Ozark Mountains and survivalist training.

“He has extensive knowledge of the Ozark Mountain region, where he is believed to be possibly hiding in caves or rugged terrain that he is familiar with,” Hammons noted.

Hardin’s escape, method of evasion, and eventual capture are expected to prompt a thorough review of internal security protocols at the Calico Rock facility. Further charges related to his escape are likely as investigations continue.