<p>A <a href="https://foxnews.com/category/us/crime/manhunt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">manhunt is underway</a> for a Tennessee inmate serving a life sentence for murder after he escaped from prison.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/southeast/tennessee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tennessee Department of Correction</a> said that Jacob Allen Morley, 28, escaped the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, on Sunday. He was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in 2025 of murdering Cody Birchfield three years earlier.</p><p>Prison staff discovered Morley was unaccounted for around 11:30 p.m. Sunday and immediately conducted an emergency count and search of the facility, according to a Tennessee Department of Correction statement given to Fox News Digital.</p><p><a href="https://foxnews.com/us/americas-most-wanted-fugitive-captured-sailboat-nj-coast-20-years-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>'AMERICA'S MOST WANTED' FUGITIVE CAPTURED ON SAILBOAT OFF NJ COAST AFTER 20 YEARS ON THE RUN</strong></a></p><p>Security video showed Morley breaching a fence while still wearing prison clothing.</p><p>Morley is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he should be "considered dangerous," adding Morley is now on the state's most wanted list.</p><p><a href="https://foxnews.com/us/manhunt-targets-armed-dangerous-murder-suspect-states-wanted-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>MANHUNT TARGETS ‘ARMED AND DANGEROUS’ MURDER SUSPECT NOW ON STATE’S MOST WANTED LIST</strong></a></p><p>In addition to the first-degree murder conviction, he was also found guilty of burglary, vandalism, tampering with evidence and evading arrest.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>SEND US A TIP</strong></a></p><p>Federal and state law enforcement is assisting to help find Morley, according to officials.</p><p>Birchfield disappeared in early February 2022 after he was last seen in Elizabethton, Tennessee. According to <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/murder-trial-carter-co-man-222906924.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WJHL</a>, investigators from the Carter County Sheriff's Office saw indications that a "violent crime" had occurred inside his house.</p><p><a href="https://link.podtrac.com/cjdr_fnd_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST</strong></a></p><p>On March 2, 2022, Morley was arrested after a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/crime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">police chase</a> that went to the North Carolina state line. After the arrest, Birchfield's body was found underneath Morley's home.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/newsletters" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL</strong></a></p><p>Morley's former girlfriend, Landree Sheperd, testified at Morley's trial and claimed that the defendant said at one point that "he f---ing killed him."</p><p>People with information about Morley's whereabouts are encouraged to contact 844-832-3463.</p>
