CALICO ROCK, Ark. — The manhunt for convicted murderer and rapist Grant Hardin—dubbed the “Devil in the Ozarks”—has entered its second week, with law enforcement agencies grappling with the unforgiving terrain of northern Arkansas.
Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25, 2025. He was serving multiple sentences for the 2017 killing of James Appleton and the 1997 rape of a schoolteacher. According to an arrest affidavit from the Izard County Sheriff’s Office, Hardin fled the facility by impersonating a corrections officer, manipulating his appearance and behavior to deceive staff into opening a secure gate.
The fugitive remains at large despite intensive efforts by state and federal authorities. The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service are offering a combined $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
“We’ve got to try and access some pretty hard-to-get-to places,” said Rand Champion, director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, in a June 3 interview with NewsNation. “That terrain has made the search more challenging than anticipated.”
Officials released a digitally altered photo on Tuesday, reflecting what Hardin might look like after more than a week on the run—thinner, with facial hair and longer hair growth. Champion confirmed in an email to USA TODAY that tips continue to be investigated but that no significant leads had emerged as of Tuesday night.
The Making of a Fugitive: Timeline of Grant Hardin’s History
Grant Hardin’s criminal history spans decades, with a long and troubled career in law enforcement preceding his convictions.
1990–1996: A Pattern of Problems in Policing
- August 6, 1990: Hardin begins work with the Fayetteville Police Department. His performance during training is deemed substandard, particularly in conflict control.
- May 22, 1991: Fired from Fayetteville PD for poor performance and indecisiveness under pressure.
- November 1, 1991: Joins the Huntsville Police Department.
- June 2, 1992: Leaves Huntsville PD.
- July 20, 1993: Hired by Eureka Springs Police Department.
- October 4, 1996: Fired for using excessive force and falsifying a report.
1997: A Brutal Assault
- November 9, 1997: A schoolteacher in Rogers, Arkansas, is raped at gunpoint in a school restroom. Hardin’s involvement would not be proven for another 20 years.
2009–2016: Return to Public Service
- 2009–2013: Elected and re-elected as Benton County District 1 Constable.
- January 2016: Hired as police chief of Gateway, Arkansas.
- April 2016: Resigns after an ultimatum from the city council. Gateway Mayor Cheryl Tillman later described him as “an evil person.”
2016–2017: A Murder and an Arrest
- November 21, 2016: Begins work at the Northwest Arkansas Community Correction Center.
- February 23, 2017: Murders James Appleton. The crime is witnessed partially over the phone by Appleton’s brother-in-law, Gateway’s then-mayor Andrew Tillman.
2017–2019: Convictions
- October 19, 2017: Pleads guilty to first-degree murder.
- February 12, 2018: Charged in the 1997 rape after a post-conviction DNA match.
- February 13, 2019: Pleads guilty to two counts of rape and is sentenced to two consecutive 25-year terms.
2023: A Documentary Sheds Light
- The true crime documentary Devil in the Ozarks is released, highlighting Hardin’s disturbing past. Executive producer Ari Mark told USA TODAY, “Even just seeing the guy’s face on the news again, I shuddered. I can only imagine what the victims and the victims’ families felt.”
Anyone with information on Hardin’s whereabouts is urged to contact local law enforcement or the U.S. Marshals Service.
