Ex-police chief, a rape-murder convict, escapes prison in inmate uniform

A manhunt is underway in Arkansas after a former police chief convicted of murder and rape escaped from prison on May 25, Sunday afternoon. Grant Hardin, 56, fled the North Central Unit in Calico Rock around 3:40 pm on May 25, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Hardin served as Gateway's police chief for approximately four months in early 2016.

Authorities have not disclosed how he managed to escape, but he was reportedly last seen wearing an Arkansas Department of Corrections uniform.

Hardin had been serving a 30-year sentence for the 2017 murder of 59-year-old James Appleton, a Gateway water department employee. Appleton was shot in the head while conversing with his brother-in-law, then-Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman, near Garfield. His body was discovered inside a car.

In addition to the murder conviction, Hardin was serving a 50-year sentence for the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas. This case had remained unsolved until DNA evidence collected during his incarceration for Appleton's murder matched samples from the rape investigation.

The victim, Amy Harrison, was attacked at Frank Tillery Elementary School while preparing lesson plans. Prosecutors described Hardin as "one of the most dangerous people" they had encountered, noting his ability to commit heinous crimes without arousing suspicion.

Law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels are collaborating to locate Hardin. The Benton County Sheriff's Office has heightened its alert status, acknowledging Hardin's strong ties to the area. Authorities urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.

The escape has raised concerns about prison security protocols, especially given Hardin's background in law enforcement.