A manhunt is in progress for a convicted killer who escaped from a prison in northwest Tennessee. Authorities report that Jacob Morley, 28, managed to escape by slipping through a prison fence and then stealing a truck.
Morley, who was serving a life sentence for murdering a co-worker four years ago, was found missing from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. This information was confirmed by the Tennessee Department of Correction in a statement.
Investigators reviewing security footage confirmed that Morley escaped in his prison uniform. However, officials have not disclosed further details, such as the method Morley used to breach the fence.
Law enforcement has searched nearby buildings and structures. The prison, located about 90 miles north of Memphis, sits in an isolated, rural region near a Mississippi River bend. Authorities have announced a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to Morley’s arrest. He is described as 5-foot-11, weighing 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.
In 2022, Morley was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his co-worker Cody Birchfield. Birchfield’s body was discovered in a box under Morley’s home in Carter County after weeks of being missing.
Besides first-degree murder, Morley was also convicted of aggravated burglary, evidence tampering, vandalism, and evading arrest. When deputies approached his home in 2022, Morley led them on a chase that concluded in North Carolina, according to authorities.
This story is still developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.