Wire reporting: (AP, via WSVN 7)

Jacob Allen Morley, 28, remained at large Thursday, four days after Tennessee officials said he left the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville through a perimeter fence while serving a life sentence for first-degree murder^2,20,28.

The Tennessee Department of Correction said staff found him unaccounted for about 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2026, and that cameras showed him leaving in a prison uniform^30,28.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said video showed him taking a white 2008 Ford F-350 with Tennessee tag 138BBQV about 1 a.m. Oct. 26 from the 400 block of Keystone Drive in Lake County; the truck was later found abandoned in Marion, Illinois, and authorities said a search there did not locate him^28,42,20.

Morley was convicted in Carter County in the 2022 killing of co-worker Cody Birchfield, whose body was found under Morley's home, and of related charges including aggravated burglary and evading arrest^20,10,28.

TBI added him to its Most Wanted list and offered up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest^20,28.

NewsChannel 5 reported Thursday that investigators are looking into an unconfirmed possible link to a Tuesday bank robbery in Dane County, Wisconsin, involving a white man of similar height and a red beard; TBI and the Department of Correction said they are checking the lead and that bank video is not clear enough to identify the suspect⁴⁶.

A cellmate told authorities Morley had spoken of an ex-girlfriend in Wisconsin, the Nashville station said; it also said there is no confirmed evidence someone is helping him⁴⁶.

Carrie Norman, Birchfield's sister, told NewsChannel 5 she learned of the escape from a friend⁴⁶.

Lake County Sheriff Bryan Avery said anyone who thinks they see Morley should call 911 and not try to detain him²⁸.

How Morley got through the fence, whether he is armed, and whether the Wisconsin robbery is connected remain unconfirmed in the reporting^2,46,20.