Vanessa 
Grant Hardin, a former police chief with a violent past, has been captured just 1.5 miles from the Calico Rock prison he escaped nearly two weeks ago. Authorities confirmed the arrest on Friday after an intense manhunt across the mountains of northern Arkansas.
Hardin, once a trusted officer in the small town of Gateway, became known as the “Devil in the Ozarks” following convictions for murder and rape. His crimes later inspired a documentary that highlighted his dark turn from lawman to violent offender.
How He Was Captured
Officers spotted Hardin in a remote, wooded area on Friday afternoon. When they approached, he briefly tried to flee. However, they quickly caught and restrained him.
“He had no energy left after being on the run for nearly two weeks,” said Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system.
Officers confirmed his identity through fingerprinting. Although he appeared uninjured, medical personnel will check him for dehydration and other health issues.
Hardin escaped on May 25 by impersonating a corrections officer. He dressed and acted like one, convincing a guard to open a secure gate. That guard didn’t verify his identity, which allowed him to simply walk out of the facility.
“It was a clear lapse in procedure,” Champion explained. Investigators are now reviewing how this happened.
Search Intensifies
Law enforcement teams launched an extensive search immediately after the escape. They used drones, helicopters, bloodhounds, and mounted officers. At one point, a bloodhound caught Hardin’s scent, but rain washed it away shortly afterward.
“That was a tough moment,” Champion admitted. “We were close, and then the trail vanished.”
To strengthen their efforts, U.S. Border Patrol’s elite Tactical Team joined the operation. With their experience in rough terrain, they tracked Hardin through dense forests, rocky ground, and caves.
On Friday, the team finally located him. Photos posted by the agency showed a muddy, shirtless Hardin lying on the ground with his hands tied behind his back.
Hardin’s career in law enforcement spanned several towns in northwest Arkansas. He worked in Fayetteville, Huntsville, Eureka Springs, and eventually Gateway. However, his time in each role often ended in controversy.
Former Eureka Springs Police Chief Earl Hyatt once said, “He did not need to be a police officer at all.” Hardin faced complaints for excessive force and poor judgment.
In 2017, he pleaded guilty to shooting and killing James Appleton, a city worker in Gateway. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car with a gunshot wound to the head.
That same year, investigators also matched Hardin’s DNA to a 1997 rape case in Rogers, a town north of Fayetteville. The victim, a teacher, had waited two decades for justice. Hardin received a 50-year sentence for that crime, in addition to his 30-year sentence for murder.
Relief for Victims’ Families
Cheryl Tillman, sister of James Appleton and the current mayor of Gateway, learned about the arrest while at a flea market in Missouri.
“It was a big sigh of relief,” she told reporters. “Now we don’t have to keep looking over our shoulders.”
Tillman also thanked the officers who worked around the clock to bring Hardin back into custody. For her family and the Gateway community, the capture brings long-awaited peace.
