Authorities in Tennessee, United States, have launched a manhunt for 28-year-old Jacob Morley, a convicted murderer who escaped from a correctional facility by getting through a perimeter fence.
Officials have announced a reward of up to $2,500 for information that could lead to his arrest.
According to the Associated Press, citing the Tennessee Department of Correction, the escape prompted a search operation around the prison and nearby properties.
Escape Discovered Late at Night
Morley’s disappearance was discovered at approximately 11:30 p.m. on October 25 at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee.
A review of surveillance footage showed that the inmate left the facility wearing prison-issued clothing. However, prison officials have not disclosed how he managed to get past the perimeter fence or provided further details about the circumstances surrounding his escape.
Authorities Launch Manhunt
Law enforcement officers are searching buildings and other structures in the surrounding area as efforts to locate Morley continue. The correctional facility is situated approximately 145 kilometres from Memphis.
Authorities have offered a reward of up to $2,500 for credible information that could assist in finding and apprehending the fugitive.
Morley is described as approximately 180 centimetres tall and weighing around 109 kilogrammes. He has brown hair and green eyes.
Convicted of Colleague’s Murder
Morley was serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of his colleague, Cody Birchfield.
According to the case details, Birchfield’s body was discovered inside a box beneath Morley’s house after investigators spent several weeks searching for him.
Beyond the murder conviction, Morley was also found guilty of aggravated burglary, concealing evidence, vandalism and attempting to evade arrest.
Previous Encounter with Police
Morley’s criminal history includes an earlier attempt to escape law enforcement. During his arrest in 2022, he led police on a pursuit that crossed into neighbouring North Carolina before it ended.
The Northwest Correctional Complex, where the latest escape occurred, has also previously attracted attention over reports of violence between inmates and attacks on correctional staff.
Authorities continue to search for Morley as efforts to establish the circumstances of his escape proceed.
