Manhunt continues for escaped Tennessee inmate after stolen truck found in Illinois

Authorities are searching for a convicted murderer who escaped from a Tennessee prison after a truck believed to have been stolen by the inmate was discovered abandoned in southern Illinois.

(CNN)- Authorities are searching for a convicted murderer who escaped from a Tennessee prison after a truck believed to have been stolen by the inmate was discovered abandoned in southern Illinois.

Jacob Morley, 28, was serving a life sentence at Tennessee’s Northwest Correctional Complex when prison staff discovered he was missing late Sunday night, according to the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Investigators reviewed security footage and determined Morley had breached the prison’s perimeter fence before leaving the facility while wearing his prison uniform.

Authorities say Morley stole a white Ford F-350 around 1 a.m. Monday.

Surveillance video later captured the truck passing a fire department building approximately 15 miles from the prison.

The vehicle was eventually discovered in Marion, Illinois, after someone who had seen news coverage of the escape recognized the truck and contacted police.

Marion police said the vehicle was parked behind a local business, within a few blocks of a shopping center.

Officers responding to the location found no evidence that Morley was still in the area.

Despite the ongoing search, some Marion residents say they are not changing their daily routines.

“I don’t think I’m going to change anything in my day-to-day life right now,” resident Rob Landes said.

Landes said he would report any information that could help authorities locate the escaped inmate.

“If I could be of help identifying a suspect and letting law enforcement know, I mean, I would do that,” he said.

He also expressed confidence in local law enforcement.

“I don’t walk in fear. I walk in faith, so I’m not scared, and we have really good law enforcement here in Marion and Williamson County, so that gives me a lot of security as well,” Landes said.

Authorities have not announced Morley’s whereabouts, and the search remains ongoing.