Manhunt underway in Tennessee after convicted murderer escapes from prison | Tennessee

Authorities in Tennessee have launched a manhunt after a convicted murderer escaped from a state prison Sunday night.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) announced Monday that Jacob Morley, 28, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in the Tiptonville community. Local media reported that staff noticed Morley missing on Sunday around 11:30 p.m.

After staff conducted an emergency count, prison surveillance footage showed Morley climbed through the perimeter fence and escaped from the prison in his TDOC uniform, local news outlet WATE reported.

TDOC describes Morley as 5 feet 11 inches tall and 240 pounds with green eyes and brown hair.

Morley was serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield, a Tennessee man initially reported missing in February 2022.

Birchfield’s body was discovered buried under Morley’s house about a month later.

Morley was also convicted of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, escape and vandalism.

“Do not attempt to apprehend this fugitive,” TDOC said in a statement, adding that any information on Morley’s whereabouts should be reported to TDOC at (844) 832-3463.

Morley’s escape comes more than a year after a manhunt was launched after 10 inmates escaped from a New Orleans prison in what was one of the largest such escapes in recent memory.

The 10 escapees – who escaped from prison through a hole in a wall behind a toilet – have since been recaptured.