Grant Hardin, a former police chief and convicted killer, has been recaptured after a nearly two-week manhunt in northern Arkansas. Authorities announced his capture on Friday, approximately 1.5 miles from the prison he escaped. Hardin, 56, had been serving a 30-year sentence for first-degree murder and a 50-year sentence for rape.

Hardin's escape from the Calico Rock North Central Unit occurred on May 25. He impersonated a corrections officer, wearing a uniform and pulling a cart, which allowed him to walk through a secure gate. This lapse in security is now under investigation, according to Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system.

During the manhunt, law enforcement utilized helicopters, drones, and K9 units. A U.S. Border Patrol tactical unit, known as BORTAC, was also deployed to assist in the search. The rugged terrain of the area, characterized by thick forests and caves, complicated the search efforts. Hardin was finally apprehended after he attempted to flee from officers but was quickly subdued.

Champion noted, "He'd been on the run for a week and a half and probably didn't have any energy left in him." Hardin's identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis. He was unharmed but will be checked for dehydration and other medical issues.

Hardin's criminal history includes pleading guilty in 2017 to the murder of James Appleton, a 59-year-old water department employee, who was shot in the head. He was also convicted of raping an elementary school teacher in 1997, a case that gained notoriety and was featured in the documentary "Devil in the Ozarks."

Cheryl Tillman, Appleton's sister and the mayor of Gateway, expressed relief at Hardin's capture, stating, "We don't have to walk around, turning around all the time, thinking somebody's on our back."

Hardin's law enforcement career was marked by controversy. He served as police chief in Gateway for only four months and had a troubled history with multiple police departments in northwest Arkansas. He was dismissed from the Fayetteville Police Department early in his career and resigned from the Huntsville Police Department without explanation. Former Eureka Springs Police Chief Earl Hyatt stated that Hardin resigned to avoid being fired over incidents involving excessive force.

As the investigation continues, authorities are eager to question Hardin about his escape and any potential accomplices.