In a concerning development, former Gateway Police Department Chief Grant Hardin, 56, remains at large after escaping from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, 72 hours ago. Hardin, who was serving a lengthy sentence for murder and rape, disappeared during the afternoon on Sunday. According to Rand Champion, Communications Director for the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC), authorities have a general understanding of Hardin’s escape route and potential circumstances surrounding it.
Officials believe that he may still be in the local region, as they have established a perimeter around Stone County. Champion stressed the importance of treating Hardin as a highly dangerous individual, warning that he may commit additional crimes while evading capture. A social media post from the Stone County Sheriff’s Office revealed an image of Hardin dressed in an ADC-style uniform during his escape; however, this attire was confirmed to be unofficial, suggesting he might have acquired it through illicit means.
Hardin, infamously dubbed the “Devil in the Ozarks,” was sentenced in 2019 after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of James Appleton and was also linked to a cold case of student rape dating back to 1997 through DNA evidence. Prosecutors highlight his capacity for seemingly random acts of extreme violence, adding urgency to the manhunt efforts ongoing in Arkansas.
Source: www.foxnews.com
