Devil of the Ozarks
When White Hats Turn Black
The Devil of the Ozarks: Grant Hardin's Crimes, Escape, and Recapture
A former Arkansas police chief's violent crimes, brazen prison escape, and dramatic recapture that captivated the nation
Grant Hardin earned the moniker "Devil in the Ozarks" through a series of violent crimes that shocked Arkansas communities and ultimately led to his decades-long imprisonment. His May 2025 escape from prison and subsequent 13-day manhunt drew national attention, culminating in a dramatic recapture that exposed critical security failures within the state's correctional system.
The Original Crimes
The 2017 Murder of James Appleton
On February 23, 2017, 59-year-old James Appleton, a water department employee for the city of Gateway, Arkansas, was brutally murdered while sitting in his work truck. Appleton was shot in the head while talking to his brother-in-law, then-Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman, on the phone.
A witness driving past Appleton's vehicle heard what sounded like a rifle shot and saw Hardin's white car speeding away from the scene. Police found Appleton's body inside his car after the witness returned to check on him.
At the time of the murder, Hardin was working as a correctional officer at the Northwest Arkansas Community Correction Center, but he had previously served as Gateway's police chief for approximately four months in early 2016. The city council had given him an ultimatum to resign or be fired after his erratic behavior, including "chasing cars for no reason" and "pulling guns on citizens". He resigned from the position and killed Appleton nine months later.
In October 2017, Hardin pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors described the killing as "murdering someone in cold blood," though Hardin never revealed his motive.
The 1997 Cold Case Rape
While serving his murder sentence, Hardin's DNA profile was entered into the Arkansas DNA database, which connected him to a decades-old cold case. In 1997, an elementary school teacher named Amy Harrison was raped at Frank Tillery Elementary School in Rogers, Arkansas, while she was preparing lesson plans on a Sunday.
The teacher was attacked while using the restroom during a church service being held in the school cafeteria with about 250 people in attendance. The assailant wore a knit stocking, sunglasses, and carried a pistol. The perpetrator was extremely careful about not touching surfaces and covered the victim's face during the assault, leading authorities to suspect someone with law enforcement knowledge.
Police used DNA samples from the crime scene to apply for a "John Doe" warrant in 2003 as the statute of limitations approached, but the case remained unsolved for 20 years until Hardin's DNA matched in 2019. He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and was sentenced to 25 years on each count, adding 50 years to his existing 30-year murder sentence.
The Prison Escape
The Security Breach
On May 25, 2025, at approximately 2:55 p.m., Hardin executed a carefully planned escape from the North Central Unit, a medium-security prison in Calico Rock, Arkansas. He escaped by donning a makeshift uniform designed to mimic law enforcement and impersonating a corrections officer.
Surveillance footage shows Hardin walking through a sally port (a secure controlled entry point) while pushing a cart containing wooden pallets, dressed in all black clothing including a baseball cap and what appeared to be a bulletproof vest. The impersonation caused a corrections officer operating the secure gate to open it and allow Hardin to walk away from the facility.
Critical Mistakes That Enabled the Escape
Arkansas Department of Corrections spokesman Rand Champion confirmed that the uniform Hardin wore was not standard prison issue, stating "There's nothing inside the prison that looks like that" and officials were investigating how he obtained or manufactured the disguise.
Champion described the lack of identity verification as a "lapse" that was being investigated, noting that someone should have checked Hardin's identity before allowing him to leave. Prison officials discovered Hardin was missing during a routine count approximately 15 to 20 minutes after he left the facility.
Hardin worked in the prison kitchen, though it remains unclear whether this position provided him access to the sally port he used to escape. He had no significant disciplinary issues during his imprisonment and was considered a model inmate.
The 13-Day Manhunt
Massive Search Operation
The escape triggered one of Arkansas's largest manhunts in recent years, involving multiple state, local, and federal agencies. Authorities deployed helicopters, drones, K9 officers, ATVs, and officers on horseback to search the rugged terrain of the Ozark Mountains.
The search was complicated by heavy rainfall that had fallen in the area, which hindered tracking efforts by bloodhounds. A bloodhound initially picked up Hardin's scent but lost it after less than a quarter mile due to the weather conditions.
The FBI and U.S. Marshals offered a combined reward of $25,000 for information leading to Hardin's capture. Federal investigators believed Hardin may have fled Arkansas, citing unconfirmed sightings in central Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Public Safety Concerns
Arkansas officials urged citizens in Izard County and surrounding areas to "stay vigilant, lock your house and vehicle doors and report any suspicious activity". Cheryl Tillman, Appleton's sister and current Gateway mayor, expressed fear that Hardin might target witnesses from his trial, stating "he seen us there, he knows".
The Dramatic Recapture
Border Patrol's Key Role
On June 6, 2025, after 13 days on the run, Hardin was captured by Arkansas law enforcement officers and U.S. Border Patrol near Moccasin Creek in Izard County, approximately 1.5 miles west of the prison he had escaped.
Tracking dogs picked up Hardin's scent in the area, leading to his apprehension shortly after 3 p.m. local time. Photos released by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol showed Hardin shirtless, covered in mud, and lying face down with his hands tied behind his back.
His identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis by the Izard County Sheriff's Office. Following his capture, Hardin was transferred to Varner SuperMax Prison in Gould, Arkansas, where he is expected to be held moving forward.
Official Response
Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders praised the multi-agency effort, specifically thanking the Trump administration and Secretary Kristi Noem for sending Border Patrol agents who were "instrumental in tracking and apprehending Hardin".
Arkansas Secretary of Corrections Lindsay Wallace expressed gratitude 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".
Official Source Photos
The Arkansas Department of Corrections released several official photographs throughout the manhunt:
Prison Mugshot: Standard booking photo showing Hardin as he appeared while incarcerated
Conclusion
The Grant Hardin case represents a confluence of violent crime, systemic security failures, and successful inter-agency cooperation. Former prosecutor Nathan Smith, who helped convict Hardin, described him as "a sociopath" with "no moral core or center that would prevent him from doing anything".
Cheryl Tillman, speaking for Appleton's family, called Hardin's recapture "a big sigh of relief," saying "We don't have to walk around, turning around all the time, thinking somebody's on our back".
The case exposed critical vulnerabilities in prison security protocols while demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement response. Hardin's background in law enforcement, combined with his violent criminal history, made him one of Arkansas's most dangerous fugitives. His recapture ensures he will face additional federal charges for his escape while serving out his existing 80-year sentence for murder and rape.
Sources: Arkansas Department of Corrections, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Arkansas State Police, Associated Press, and court documents from Benton County and federal district court filings.