Manhunt Underway for Convicted Murderer Jacob Morley After Tennessee Prison Escape

Law enforcement agencies across multiple states are hunting for Jacob Morley, a 28-year-old convicted murderer who escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, on the night of October 25. Morley, who is serving a life sentence, breached a prison perimeter fence around 11:30 p.m. and subsequently stole a pickup truck to flee the area, WSMV reported.

The stakes are immediate for residents in Tennessee and Illinois, as Jacob Morley, a convicted murderer described by a friend of his victim as having “nothing to lose,” is currently unaccounted for after a stolen truck was found in Illinois.

A Trail of Evidence from Tennessee to Illinois

The escape began Sunday night when surveillance footage captured Morley breaching the fence at the Northwest Correctional Complex. He didn’t leave empty-handed. Early Monday morning, October 26, Morley stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 in Lake County, Tennessee. The vehicle was spotted on camera driving past the Hornbeak Fire Department around 1 a.m.

Urgent multi-state manhunt for murderer who escaped Tennessee prison

The manhunt shifted north into Illinois after a vigilant citizen spotted the truck and alerted authorities. Marion Police Chief David Fitts noted that Morley abandoned the vehicle behind a Rural King shopping center in Marion, Illinois. While the truck was found Tuesday morning, October 27, police believe Morley had actually dumped the vehicle around 4 a.m. Monday.

By the time the truck was recovered, Morley had a 30-hour head start. Chief Fitts and Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich both stated that while Morley could still be in the Marion area, there is no physical evidence to prove he is. He could be anywhere.

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The Brutality of the Birchfield Murder

Morley is serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield. The details of that case are harrowing: Birchfield was training Morley at work before he vanished for three weeks. He was eventually discovered hidden inside a box, buried beneath Morley’s home.

Diana Reid, a longtime friend of Birchfield, expressed outrage over the circumstances of Morley’s incarceration. She claims Morley was placed in a minimum-security facility despite the nature of his crime.

Manhunt underway for convicted murderer who escaped from Tennessee prison

“He should have been in a maximum-security prison with eyes on him at all times,” Reid said. “I just worry for anyone who would come in his path because he had nothing to lose. At this point, if he comes across anyone and he needs something, he can do the same thing to them that he did to Cody.”

Family Learned of Escape Through Facebook

The fallout from the escape has led a friend of the victim to express concern that notification systems were not in place for someone as dangerous as Morley. Reid reported that Birchfield’s family never received a VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) alert regarding the escape. Instead, they found out through Facebook.

WSMV attempted to reach Dorinda Carter, the director of communications for the Tennessee Department of Correction, leaving multiple messages to ask how a life-term inmate managed to breach a secure perimeter. As of the latest report, Carter has not responded.

Manhunt Underway for Convicted Murderer Jacob Morley After Tennessee Prison Escape — Photo: kfvs12.com

The current reward for Morley’s capture stands at $7,500, combining a $2,500 offer from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and an additional $5,000 from the U.S. Marshals for the Western District of Tennessee.

Identifying the Fugitive

Authorities have added Jacob Morley to the TBI Most Wanted list. Because he left the facility in his TDOC uniform but has had days to change clothes and appearance, the TBI is urging the public to rely on physical descriptions and surveillance footage.

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Height: Between 5-feet 7-inches and 6-feet (TBI/TDOC sources vary slightly)
Weight: 240 to 270 pounds
Eyes: Green
Hair: Brown

Residents in the search areas are being asked to review home security, doorbell, and trail cameras for any sightings. The TBI has issued a strict warning: do not approach Morley. If spotted, call 911 immediately or contact the TDOC at 1-844-832-3463.

The Question of Minimum Security

While the TDOC has not responded to inquiries about the escape, the result is a fugitive on the loose who was convicted of murder and previously hid a victim’s body in a box.