Grant Hardin, a convicted killer and recaptured prison escapee known as the "escape artist," has been transferred to the Varner SuperMax prison southeast of Little Rock, Arkansas.
Recapture Details
Hardin was recaptured on Friday, 1.5 miles northwest of Calico Rock Prison, from which he escaped nearly two weeks earlier. Authorities had been searching for him in the rugged mountains of northern Arkansas since his escape.
- Spokesperson Statement: Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system, reported that when officers approached Hardin on Friday afternoon, he briefly attempted to run but was quickly tackled to the ground.
- Search Efforts: The search involved drones and bloodhounds but was hindered by high water from heavy rains, which raised water levels in creeks and streams around Calico Rock Prison. Champion noted, "This likely limited both his abilities and those of our searchers to move through certain areas."
Escape Method
According to court documents, Hardin impersonated a corrections officer "in dress and manner" before escaping by opening secure gates at Calico Rock Prison on July 11th. He had been held at Calico Rock since 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder following an investigation into multiple murders across several counties in Missouri.
Ongoing Investigation
Benton County prosecutor Bryan Sexton is investigating how Hardin’s escape occurred without proper identification checks outside jail walls. Sexton believes Hardin remained within northern Arkansas until being caught near where he broke free last week, about one mile northwest of Calico Rock Jail.
- Background: Hardin used his knowledge as a former police chief in Gateway, Arkansas—just outside Ozark National Forest—to evade capture over the past fortnight.
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