It has been 72 hours since a former Arkansas police chief serving decades in prison for murder and rape escaped from prison on Sunday afternoon.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) reported that Grant Hardin, the former Gateway Police Department Chief, aged 56, managed to escape from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on Sunday afternoon, as per official statements.
ADC Communications Director Rand Champion stated during a news conference held on Wednesday that they have a clear understanding of the likely route that Hardin took to escape and are investigating any potential security breaches that may have occurred.
Champion also mentioned that based on the available information and the expertise of their teams, there is a belief that Hardin is still in close proximity to the region. Despite setting up a perimeter around Stone County, officials acknowledge that Hardin could potentially utilize a single vehicle to travel beyond the restricted area.
The victim, a teacher at Frank Tillery Elementary in Rogers, said she was raped by a man with a gun at the school.
“It was proven to be Mr. Hardin beyond all scientific certainty,” Nathan Smith, the prosecuting attorney for Benton County at the time, told the outlet.
Rand Champion said investigators believe Grant Hardin is still in the Arkansas area. (KFSM)
Authorities confirmed Hardin’s DNA matched the DNA linked to the rape suspect. Harrison was ambushed while preparing a lesson plan for the week. The case had been cold for nearly two decades.
Hardin ended up pleading guilty to the rape in 2019.
“Grant Hardin, in my view and in my personal experience, is one of the most dangerous people that I ever seen for the reason that he does not at first appear that way,” Smith previously said. “He is a man capable of a seemingly random, horrific murder as well as a random, horrific rape.”
Hardin is described as a 6′ white male, weighing approximately 259 pounds.
Fox News’ Stepheny Price and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
