Tennessee fugitive linked to Wisconsin robbery

Jacob Allen Morley is currently at large after escaping from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tennessee on Monday. The convicted murderer stole a white 2008 Ford F-150 belonging to Lindamood Planting Company to leave the facility. Law enforcement recovered the truck abandoned in Marion, Illinois, early Tuesday, but they have no evidence placing Morley in that region since the discovery.

The search gained traction on Tuesday when a gunman robbed the Bank of Deerfield in Dane County, Wisconsin. Witnesses said the suspect entered just before closing time, held two employees at gunpoint, and took cash. No one was injured during the incident. The robber fled in a Lincoln MKZ stolen from the bank's parking lot. Investigators later found the sedan unoccupied nearby.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed it is reviewing the Wisconsin incident. Officials have not yet confirmed a connection between the bank robbery and Morley's escape. This uncertainty keeps the manhunt open across state lines while authorities compare vehicle data and suspect descriptions.

Morley is serving a life sentence for the 2022 killing of Cody Birchfield. Daniel Russell, a friend of the victim, described the fugitive's threat level in blunt terms. "He's a monster. He will do it again," Russell said.

Tyreece Miller, the U.S. marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, has raised the reward for information leading to Morley's arrest to $15,000. The fugitive is listed on the Tennessee Most Wanted List and should be treated as dangerous. The TBI asks the public to call 1-800-TBI-FIND with any tips. If a witness spots Morley, they should not approach him and should call 911 immediately.