A MULTI-STATE INTENSE MANHUNT IS UNDERWAY FOR TWO ESCAPED LOUISIANA INMATES WHO ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPED A TENNESSEE MAN IN VICKSBURG.
THE FAMILY OF DAVID CUPPS REPORTED HIM MISSING TUESDAY. CUPPS DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR WORK OR A SCHEDULED FLIGHT. CUPPS WAS LAST SEEN IN VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI AND HIS RENTAL CAR WAS REPORTEDLY FOUND IN LEXINGTON, TENNESSEE -- AND THAT'S NOT ALL. TWO MEN REPORTEDLY FLED THE CAR AFTER A TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER PULLED IT OVER DURING A TRAFFIC STOP. THOSE TWO MEN -- 33-YEAR-OLD DARIAN "DRAKE" PIERCE AND 36-YEAR-OLD RICKY WEDGEWORTH ARE WANTED ESCAPED INMATES FROM LOUISIANA, ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. THE TROOPER PULLED THEM OVER LATE TUESDAY EVENING NEAR MILE MARKER 84, ALONG INTERSTATE 40. WEDGEWORTH AND PIERCE MANAGED TO GET AWAY ON FOOT. OFFICERS FROM THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL, JACKSON, TENNESSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MADISON COUNTY, TENNESSEE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PURSUED THE MEN ON FOOT, BUT WERE UNABLE TO CATCH THEM. AUTHORITIES NOTED THAT THE CAR THAT WEDGEWORTH AND PIERCE WERE DRIVING IS THE SAME CAR RENTED BY CUPPS. OFFICIALS WITH THE TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SAYS THE TWO LIKELY STOLE THE CAR FROM MISSISSIPPI. WEDGEWORTH WAS SERVING TIME FOR A 2006 ARMED ROBBERY. PIERCE WAS SERVING TIME FOR ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. CUPPS' FAMILY -- INCLUDING HIS WIFE, DELLA, AND DAUGHTER, VALERIE CLICK -- WHO SAID THEY ARE DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT HIS WELL-BEING. THEY SAID THEY WERE ALSO UPSET AT LAW ENFORCEMENT'S FOCUS ON THE MANHUNT FOR THE ESCAPED INMATES AND NOT, APPARENTLY, ON FINDING MR. CUPPS. THEY SAID HIS EMPLOYER OFFERED THE COMPANY'S PRIVATE JET FOR THE FAMILY TO FLY DOWN TO MISSISSIPPI. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION REGARDING CUPPS' WHEREABOUTS OR THE THEFT OF HIS RENTAL VEHICLE ARE ASKED TO CALL 911 OR THEIR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT