Manhunt under way in Tennessee after convicted murderer escapes prison

Tennessee officials have mounted a manhunt after a convicted murderer’s escape from prison on Sunday evening.

The Tennessee department or correction (TDOC) on Monday announced that Jacob Morley, 28, escaped from the Northwest correctional complex in the community of Tiptonville. Local outlets reported that staff noticed Morley was unaccounted for at about 11.30pm on Sunday.

After staff conducted an emergency headcount, prison surveillance footage showed that Morley breached the perimeter fence and escaped the prison in his TDOC uniform, the local news outlet WATE reported.

TDOC describes Morley as being 5ft 11in and 240lbs with green eyes and brown hair.

Morley was serving a