Manhunt underway for convicted murderer who escaped from prison, officials say

LAKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) – A convicted murderer is on the run after escaping from a prison in Tennessee.

Officers at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Lake County discovered inmate Jacob Morley was missing late Sunday night.

Surveillance footage shows Morley breached a perimeter fence and left the facility in his prison uniform.

Authorities released video of him allegedly stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 during his escape around 1 a.m. Monday.

The truck has a Tennessee license plate 138BBQV and is marked with Lindamood Planting Company on the side.

Morley is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in the 2022 killing of Cody Birchfield in Carter County, officials said. He was also convicted of abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and aggravated burglary.

Morley was found guilty on Feb. 3 and sentenced to life with chance of parole.

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Morley has now been added to the Tennessee Most Wanted List and should be considered dangerous.

A reward of up to $2,500 is offered for information leading to his arrest. Anyone who sees him or has information is asked to call 911 or 1-800-TBI-FIND immediately.

Morley is the second inmate to escape Tennessee Department of Corrections custody in less than a week.