In a dramatic turn of events, Samuel Paul Hartman, a convicted rapist who made a daring escape from an Arkansas prison last year using a jet ski, has been apprehended in West Virginia. The U.S. Marshals Service led the successful operation, which resulted in the arrest of Hartman, his wife, his mother, and his mother's boyfriend at a hotel in Lewisburg. This arrest comes after months of intensive investigation, following Hartman's escape from the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys in August 2022. The women, accused of aiding Hartman's escape, allegedly approached the detention facility in a pickup truck while he was on a work detail in a nearby field.

Gunshots were fired at a corrections officer from the vehicle as Hartman made his escape. The vehicle then fled to two jet skis that were strategically placed near the Mississippi River, just a short distance from the prison. Authorities discovered the abandoned jet skis on the Mississippi side of the river, and a witness reported seeing one man and two women riding them. Investigators later uncovered Hartman's mother's alleged ties to West Virginia, leading to the eventual arrests. The joint effort by U.S. marshals and law enforcement agencies including the West Virginia State Police, Lewisburg Police Department, and the Greenbrier County Sheriff's Office culminated in the successful apprehension of Hartman and his accomplices.

Along with Hartman, Misty Hartman (Samuel's wife), Linda Annette White (Samuel's mother), and Rodney Trent (White's boyfriend) were arrested. Trent, specifically, is facing felony charges of harboring a sex offender and assisting Hartman and the two women. However, the Marshals Service has not disclosed the charges that Misty Hartman and Linda White will face. Extradition proceedings are now expected to take place, with the suspects being transported back to Arkansas to face justice. Samuel Hartman, 39, had been serving a life sentence since 2013 following a rape conviction in Franklin County, Arkansas.

The Arkansas Department of Corrections spokeswoman expressed confidence in the swift extradition process to ensure the suspects are brought back to Arkansas as soon as possible. This arrest marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victims and serves as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of law enforcement agencies in their commitment to keeping communities safe.