Manhunt Intensifies for Convicted Killer Who Escaped Tennessee Prison

Authorities in the United States have launched a manhunt for a convicted murderer who escaped from a Tennessee prison by slipping through a perimeter fence, with investigators searching for him after the pickup truck he allegedly stole during his getaway was found abandoned in Illinois.

Jacob Allen Morley, 28, was discovered missing from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, according to the Tennessee Department of Correction. A review of surveillance footage confirmed that he had breached the prison’s perimeter fence and left the facility wearing his prison uniform.

Officials have not disclosed exactly how Morley managed to get through the fence or whether anyone helped him escape.

Investigators subsequently released surveillance footage showing Morley allegedly stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck from a nearby farm at approximately 1 a.m. on Monday, October 26. The vehicle, marked with the name Lindamood Planting Company, was reported stolen in Lake County, Tennessee.

The truck was later seen travelling past the Hornbeak Fire Department, several miles from the prison. Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that it had been found abandoned behind a shopping centre in Marion, Illinois, approximately 120 miles north of the prison. Morley’s whereabouts remained unknown in the latest reports.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has added Morley to its Most Wanted list and is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest. Authorities have urged residents to review footage from home security cameras, doorbell cameras and outdoor surveillance systems for possible sightings.

Morley is described by authorities as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Officials have warned the public not to approach him and to contact law enforcement immediately if they believe they have seen him.

Morley was serving a life sentence following his conviction for the 2022 murder of his co-worker, Cody Birchfield. Birchfield was reported missing in February 2022, and his body was later discovered inside a box beneath Morley’s home in Carter County, Tennessee.

In addition to first-degree murder, Morley was convicted of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism and evading arrest. Authorities said he led deputies on a chase that ended in North Carolina when they attempted to apprehend him in connection with the killing.

The escape has renewed scrutiny of security and staffing challenges within Tennessee’s prison system. The Northwest Correctional Complex has experienced reports of violence involving inmates and staff, while a 2023 audit found substantial vacancies among correctional officer positions.

The manhunt is continuing as state and other law enforcement agencies work to locate Morley. Investigators have not announced an arrest or confirmed where he went after abandoning the stolen vehicle.