Arkansas lawmakers hear from state prison officials on Hardin escape

A state prison director defended his handling of a May escape Tuesday as Arkansas legislators questioned whether poor training and unclear policies contributed to a convicted murderer’s 10-day flight from custody.

Corrections Director Dexter Payne maintained that two fired employees were primarily responsible for allowing Grant Hardin to walk out of the North Central Unit near Calico Rock. But a newly released state police investigation revealed broader institutional problems that lawmakers said enabled the escape.

Hardin, 56, who was serving time for murder and rape, spent months collecting kitchen aprons and dyeing them black to create a disguise. The makeshift uniform helped him convince a tower guard to open the prison’s front gate.

The 900-page investigative report found supervisors received conflicting instructions about inmate supervision on a loading dock where Hardin had been working. Some kitchen staff said they never heard updated policies requiring constant supervision of inmates in that area.

Communication failures also delayed alerts to law enforcement when officials discovered Hardin missing, the report found.

Six employees have faced discipline since the incident — two terminations, four suspensions and one demotion.

Sen. Matt McKee questioned Payne about training gaps during a legislative subcommittee hearing, saying the escape reflected “systematic failure” beyond individual mistakes.

Payne promised improved training while maintaining the two fired workers bore primary responsibility. Hardin was recaptured June 2 and transferred to a maximum-security facility.

For more information on this story, head to the Arkansas Advocate or KATV