Manhunt shifts to Illinois for escaped Tennessee murderer

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday that an escaped murder convict crossed state lines. Officials said the truck he stole was found abandoned in Illinois. He is to be considered dangerous. Jacob Allen Morley, age 28, had been serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest, and vandalism, according to TDOC.

He was added to Tennessee’s most wanted list Monday after escaping the previous evening from a correctional facility in Northwest Tennessee’s Tiptonville. The Tennessee Department of Correction, or TDOC, offered a reward of $2,500 and instructed residents in the area to check personal surveillance footage, such as from doorbell or hunting cameras, for possible sightings. Tennessee investigators posted a video of a truck that Morley stole at around 1 a.m. Monday from the 400 block of Keystone Dr. in Lake County. They asked the public to look out for the truck and call with any information. Then on Tuesday, they found the truck abandoned in Marion, Ill.

How did Morley escape? The TDOC said that at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, staff confirmed Morley was unaccounted for and immediately searched the facility. Further review of security cameras showed Morley breaching the perimeter fence and leaving the facility while still wearing his prison uniform. He is the second inmate to escape in the past week from the custody of the TDOC.

The Department’s commissioner, Frank Strada, resigned Oct. 3 following the botched execution and hospitalization last month of Christa Pike.

Is the TBI working with other states? In a statement to WORLD, the TBI said that agents continue to assist their local, state, and federal partners in locating Morley. The state bureau said its law enforcement partners in surrounding states have been notified to be on the lookout. Illinois State Police told WORLD that they are aware of the situation and have offered their assistance to the TBI.