In May 2025, Grant Hardin escaped from Calico Rock prison by using a fake uniform to disguise himself. He walked past the security gate, which triggered a massive manhunt across the Ozark Mountains then Authorities deployed police teams, dog squads, drones, and helicopters in the search operation.
June 6, 2025, he was captured near the Moccasin Creek area. In 2025, he is 56 year old.
“I’m incredibly appreciative to all of our dedicated law enforcement agencies that spent countless hours, both day and night… I give my heartfelt thank you for your immeasurable contributions to bring this search to a peaceful conclusion,” Lindsay Wallace said.
“Thanks to the great work of local, state and federal law enforcement Arkansans can breathe a sigh of relief and I can confirm that violent criminal Grant Hardin is back in custody… I am grateful for all law enforcement who contributed to his capture and give special thanks to the Trump administration … who sent a team from Border Patrol that was instrumental in tracking and apprehending Hardin,” Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders statement.
Grant Hardin biography: Grant Hardin is former ex-police chief and murderer who born on december 6, 1968, in Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S. Hardin was an intelligent and ambitious student.
He grew up in Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Initially, he worked as carton loader and dockworker. He joined law enforcement in early 1990s and he served as officer in Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, and Huntsville. His full name is Grant Matthew Hardin.
He served as constable for Benton County District 1 from 2009 to 2010 and 2013 to 2014. In 2016, he became police chief of Gateway, Arkansas.
On Feb 23, 2017, he shot 59‑year‑old water employee James Appleton execution-style in Gateway, Arkansas then he was arrested and charged with capital murder but pled guilty to first-degree murder Oct 16, 2017 and he received 30 years in prison (21 years before parole eligibility).
In 2019, Grant Hardin was linked to the rape of a female teacher through DNA evidence from a cold case that happened in 1997. Female teacher’s name is Amy Harrison was a female elementary school teacher at Frank Tillery Elementary in Rogers, Arkansas. She was about 27 year old girl at the time of the attack.
The victim was threatened at gunpoint, and Hardin raped her. In court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape. He received an additional sentence of 50 years.
Grant Hardin will not be eligible for parole until he is about 84 years old.
