Manhunt Underway in Arkansas Ozarks After Convicted Murderer Escapes Prison

A convicted murderer and former police chief, Grant Hardin, escaped from an Arkansas state prison on Sunday. Authorities are conducting a large-scale search in the rugged Ozark Mountains. Gateway Mayor Cheryl Tillman, whose brother was murdered by Hardin eight years ago, described him in an interview as "just an evil person." This escape has understandably terrified the community. Hardin was serving a life sentence for murder and a 1990s rape. A spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections confirmed that the search is focused on the north-central part of the state, with hundreds of officers involved, including those on horseback. The escape itself remains a mystery, as Hardin cleverly disguised himself in a makeshift law enforcement uniform to leave the prison. While the community is on edge, the determined search efforts offer a glimmer of hope for a swift recapture.