Latest news with #JamesAppleton
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Arkansas mayor, murder victim's sister reacts to Grant Hardin's escape
The town where Arkansas prison escapee and convicted murderer Grant Hardin once served as police chief remains on edge, according to its mayor who is also the sister of Hardin's victim. "Anxiety is still high," Cheryl Tillman, the mayor of Gateway, Arkansas, told USA TODAY in an interview May 28. "I think everybody's still on alert, being vigilant, doing every precaution that they can." Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25, wearing a "makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement," according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Hardin had been serving time for the 2017 murder of James Appleton, Tillman's brother, in Gateway and the 1997 rape of a school teacher in nearby Rogers. He was sentenced to 80 years on the combined convictions, according to court records. Tillman described Hardin, who served as Gateway's police chief while Tillman was on the city council in 2016, as "very arrogant" and "angry." "He's an evil person," Tillman said. Hardin remains at large as of Wednesday night, with the FBI, Department of Corrections, Arkansas State Police and local police were working to find Hardin, officials said earlier in the day. Hardin pleaded guilty to in 2017 to murder in the first degree for shooting and killing Appleton in February of the same year, according to court records. Appleton's brother-in-law and Cheryl's husband, Andrew Tillman, told Benton County Sheriff's investigators that he was on the phone with Appleton when he was shot, according to a probable cause affidavit. Andrew was the Gateway's mayor at the time of the shooting. Cheryl described Appleton as a "very good brother" with a strong civic sense who obtained a license to work for the Gateway Rural Water Authority when asked by his brother-in-law. "Everybody in this town knew James. They knew that they could call James if they needed help on anything," Tillman said. Tillman said that learning of Hardin's escape brought back memories of the murder. "Everything was happening all over again. From the time he shot my brother and the time we had to go to court with him," Tillman said. The 1997 rape was the focus of a 2023 documentary titled "Devil in the Ozarks," for which Tillman was interviewed. She said that the interview was "tough to do." "We've since been in touch with the subjects of that film and law enforcement and are praying for Hardin's immediate capture in the name of justice and the victims and their families' peace of mind," Ari Mark, one of the executive producers of the documentary, told USA TODAY in a statement May 28. Tillman emphasized the need for residents of Gateway, a place she described as "a very quiet town" where "everybody knows everybody," to remain vigilant while Hardin remained at-large. "Lock their doors. If they need to, load their guns," Tillman said. "Whatever they need to do, just stay vigilant and watch your backs." Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Michael Loria, Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arkansas mayor: Town on edge after Grant Hardin's escape
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
'Devil in the Ozarks' killer remains a fugitive. Why is it so hard to find him?
The search for Arkansas prison escapee Grant Hardin - the so-called 'Devil in the Ozarks' killer - is in its second week amid mountainous, rough terrain. Hardin, a 56-year-old former police chief, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, May 25, where he was serving time for the 2017 murder of James Appleton and the 1997 rape of a school teacher, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. "Inmate Hardin impersonated a corrections officer in dress and manner causing the Corrections Officer operating a secure gate to open the gate and allow Inmate Hardin to walk away from the North Central Unit," Special Agent Dennis Simons of the Izard County Sheriff's Office wrote in an arrest affidavit. The subject of the 2023 documentary "Devil in the Ozarks" remains at large as the FBI and U.S. Marshall's Service have a combined $25,000 reward for information leading to Hardin's capture. Rand Champion, director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, told NewsNation June 3 that the mountainous terrain of the Ozarks has made the search difficult. "We've got to try and access some pretty hard-to-get-to places. And so being able to get into there has caused some challenges,' Champion told the network. The Arkansas Department of Corrections released a photo Tuesday depicting "what officials feel he would look similar to after a week on the run," Champion said in an email to USA TODAY Tuesday night. He added that the mugshot was altered to represent a week's worth of hair growth and to make Hardin slimmer due to limited food. Champion said that there are no new developments as of Tuesday night, though tips are being investigated. Here is a timeline of what we know about Grant Hardin. Reporting from local outlets and court records show: August 6, 1990: Hardin is hired by the Fayetteville Police Department 5News reported that department records say he had not improved in "control of conflict" skills during his training May 22, 1991: Hardin is fired by the Fayetteville Police Department "Your Field Training Officers, supervisors, and I have observed your performance and determined your efforts fall short of the average probationary officer," A letter, published by 5News, from then chief Richard Watson said. "Your tendency not to accept constructive criticism along with indecisiveness under stressful situations played a major role in my decision." November 1, 1991: Hardin is hired by the Huntsville Police Department June 2, 1992: Hardin leaves the Huntsville Police Department July 20, 1993: Hardin is hired by the Eureka Springs Police Department October 4, 1996: Hardin is fired by the Eureka Springs Police Department Then Chief Earl Hyatt fired Hardin for excessive force and lying on a report, KNWA reported November 9, 1997: Hardin assaults a school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas The victim told investigators that she was attacked on a Sunday morning, a time she normally worked to prepare for the week and noted that a church group was meeting in the school's cafeteria, according to an affidavit filed at the time of the attack. She was attacked at gunpoint after leaving her classroom for a restroom off of the teacher's lounge, according to the affidavit. 2009: Hardin begins his first term as Benton County District 1 Constable, according to 5News 2013: Hardin begins his second term as constable, according to 5News January 2016: Hardin is hired to be the police chief in Gateway, Arkansas April 2016: Hardin resigns from the position following an ultimatum from the city council, according to the Associated Press "He's an evil person," then city council member and current Gateway Mayor Cheryl Tillman told USA TODAY. November 21, 2016: Hardin is hired at the Northwest Arkansas Community Correction Center in Fayetteville, according to KHBS/KHOG. He would work there until his arrest February 23, 2017: Hardin shoots James Appleton Appleton's brother-in-law, Andrew Tillman, told Benton County Sheriff's investigators that he was on the phone with Appleton when he was shot, according to a probable cause affidavit. Tillman was the mayor of Gateway, Arkansas when the shooting occurred. A witness told investigators that he saw a white car parked behind Appleton's truck, heard a loud bang and saw the white car speed off. The witness then turned around to check on the truck only to discover Appleton dead, according to the affidavit. October 19, 2017: Hardin pleads guilty to murder in the first degree February 12, 2018: Hardin is charged for the 1997 rape based on a DNA test taken after the murder conviction, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case February 13, 2019: Hardin pleads guilty to two counts of rape and is sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for each count consecutively 2023: The documentary "Devil in the Ozarks" is released "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," Ari Mark, co-founder of AMPLE Entertainment and executive producer of the documentary told USA TODAY Contributing: Jeanine Santucci – USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Devil in the Ozarks killer still a fugitive. Why's he so hard to find?
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
A 12-day search ends less than 2 miles away: How 'Devil in the Ozarks' killer was caught
The former Arkansas police chief who escaped prison disguised as a guard only made it about a mile-and-a-half away from the facility in the 12 days before he was captured, officials said. Convicted murderer and rapist Grant Hardin was found at about 3 p.m. on June 6 west of the North Central Unit state prison near Moccasin Creek in Izard County, Arkansas Department of Corrections spokesperson Rand Champion said in a statement. In a photo of his arrest, Hardin is seen sitting on the ground in a vegetated area with his hands behind his back in a baseball cap and dirty T-shirt and pants. Hardin, 56, was in prison serving a decadeslong sentence for the 2017 murder of water department employee James Appleton in Gateway, Arkansas, and the 1997 rape of a school teacher in nearby Rogers. He's known as the "Devil in the Ozarks," the name of a 2023 TV documentary about his crimes. His escape on May 25 involved dressing up in a makeshift outfit to disguise himself as a corrections officer, tricking a real officer into opening a gate and allowing him to walk out of the medium-security facility, court records said. He will now be housed at the high-security Varner Unit in Gould, Arkansas, Champion said. Here's what we know about Hardin's capture and escape: Discover WITNESS: Access our exclusive collection of true crime stories, podcasts, videos and more Authorities said tracking dogs picked up Hardin's scent and were able to lead them to Hardin. Hundreds of law enforcement officers at the local, state and federal level spent nearly two weeks searching for Hardin, using dogs, drones and aircraft, at times hampered by severe weather. Moccasin Creek where he was found has seen high water due to heavy rainfall in the last two weeks, which may have limited Hardin's ability to move around. It also prevented authorities from finding him sooner. Champion said search teams had looked through the area before but couldn't fully investigate because of the high water. Though Hardin was previously thought to have left the state, Champion said investigators now believe he never got very far at all from the prison. He was fingerprinted and assessed at the North Central Unit before being moved to the Varner Unit, Champion said. He will be interviewed in the coming days. Hardin slipped away from the prison the afternoon of May 25 wearing a "makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement," the Arkansas Department of Corrections said. "Inmate Hardin impersonated a corrections officer in dress and manner causing the Corrections Officer operating a secure gate to open the gate and allow Inmate Hardin to walk away from the North Central Unit," Special Agent Dennis Simons of the Izard County Sheriff's Office wrote in an arrest affidavit. A photo from surveillance footage showed Hardin wearing the outfit and pushing a loaded cart as he escaped. Champion said Hardin was gone for about 20 minutes when an officer noticed he was missing. 'Devil in the Ozarks' killer: Why was it so hard to find Grant Hardin? His escape came amid an ongoing weekslong search for escaped inmates in Louisiana. On May 16, 10 inmates broke out of a New Orleans jail; two are still on the run as of June 7. Hardin pleaded guilty to the Feb. 23, 2017, murder of Appleton. Appleton's brother-in-law and the mayor of Gateway at the time, Andrew Tillman, told police he was on the phone with Appleton while Appleton was driving his truck. Appleton pulled over so he wouldn't lose signal while on the phone with Tillman, Tillman told investigators. Tillman heard what sounded like a car door slamming shut, then nothing. A witness also told police they saw someone pulled over behind the truck in a car and heard a gunshot, and identified the driver as Hardin. Appleton was found dead in his truck with a gunshot to the side of his head and face. After his conviction, his DNA was matched with that from an unsolved rape case in 1997, in which a teacher said she was attacked while at school by a man who held her at gunpoint, according to court records. Hardin pleaded guilty to charges related to the rape. Hardin's combined convictions added up to 80 years in prison sentences. Hardin was the chief of police in Gateway for about four months in 2016, the Associated Press reported. He was also terminated from roles at other police departments, local outlets have reported. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Devil in the Ozarks' killer captured: How Grant Hardin was caught
New York Times
06-06-2025
- New York Times
Ex-Police Chief and Convicted Killer Who Escaped Is Caught Near Arkansas Prison
A former Arkansas police chief and convicted murderer known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks' was captured on Friday, less than two miles from a maximum-security prison from which he escaped on May 25, the authorities said. The fugitive, Grant Hardin, was caught about 3:45 p.m. not far from the Calico Rock North Central Unit, ending an intense manhunt that began nearly two weeks ago when he slipped out of the prison dressed in a fake law enforcement uniform. Mr. Hardin, 56, who had previously served as the police chief in Gateway, Ark., disappeared about 15 to 20 minutes before an inmate count. Officials had described Mr. Hardin, who was serving a decades-long sentence for first-degree murder and rape, as extremely dangerous. In 2017, he was arrested in connection with the shooting death of James Appleton just outside Gateway, where Mr. Appleton had worked in the water department. Mr. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in the murder of Mr. Appleton, who was shot in the head at point-blank range with a shotgun while pulled over in a pickup truck and talking on the phone.
CBS News
06-06-2025
- CBS News
Grant Hardin, convicted murderer known as "Devil in the Ozarks," in custody nearly 2 weeks after Arkansas prison escape
Inmate known as "Devil of the Ozarks" escapes from prison dressed as officer A former police chief known as the "Devil in the Ozarks" has been recaptured nearly two weeks after his escape on May 25 from an Arkansas prison, where he was serving decadeslong sentences for murder and rape, the Izard County Sheriff's Office said. Grant Hardin escaped the Calico Rock prison by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform, officials have said. He had been held at the prison since 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder for fatally shooting 59-year-old James Appleton — a man he allegedly had multiple disputes with, according to the HBO documentary "Devil in the Ozarks." The fatal shooting happened following Hardin's brief time as the police chief of the small town of Gateway, Arkansas. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder. Hardin's DNA was then matched to the 1997 rape of a teacher at an elementary school in northwestern Arkansas. He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and was sentenced to 25 years in prison for each count, for a total sentence of 50 years. This is a developing story. It will be updated.
