Former Gateway, Arkansas, police chief Grant Hardin, convicted of murder and rape, escaped from the Calico Rock North Central Unit prison on May 25, 2025. He disguised himself in a makeshift corrections officer uniform and was allowed to exit through a controlled gate. Hardin had been serving a 30-year sentence for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and a 50-year sentence for the 1997 rape of a teacher, crimes he confessed to after DNA evidence linked him to the latter

A nationwide manhunt ensued, culminating in Hardin’s capture on June 6, approximately 1.5 miles from the prison. Tracking dogs led authorities to his location near Moccasin Creek in Izard County, Arkansas . His escape and subsequent recapture have raised concerns about prison security protocols and the potential exploitation of systemic vulnerabilities by individuals with law enforcement backgrounds .

Hardin’s case has garnered significant media attention, including a 2023 HBO Max documentary titled Devil in the Ozarks, which detailed his crimes and the investigation leading to his convictions .