An intensive manhunt is currently being conducted in Arkansas following the escape of Grant Hardin, a former police chief condemned for murder and rape. Hardin, aged 56, fled the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, AR, on a Sunday afternoon as per information from the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Hardin has been incarcerated since 2017, serving a 30-year sentence for first-degree murder, in addition to a separate sentence for rape. Authorities have urged anyone with knowledge of Hardin’s whereabouts to reach out to local law enforcement immediately.
As the chief of police in Gateway, Hardin pleaded guilty to the murder of city water employee James Appleton, who was tragically found shot in the face in 2017. Furthermore, during his incarceration, DNA evidence linked him to a survivor of a cold rape case involving a teacher, Amy Harrison, dating back to 1997. Harrison was attacked with a firearm while preparing lesson plans at her school.
Notably, Hardin pleaded guilty to the rape in 2019, after authorities confirmed the DNA match. Nathan Smith, the prosecuting attorney at the time, described Hardin as a particularly dangerous individual who could commit heinous acts without warning. He is 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 259 pounds. The search for him remains active and urgent.
Source: www.foxnews.com
