Convicted murderer escapes prison through fence, steals truck

Authorities are searching for Jacob Morley, a 28-year-old convicted murderer who escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, by slipping through a fence and subsequently stealing a truck.

The escape from the facility in northwest Tennessee prompted an active manhunt and surveillance footage releases by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as law enforcement works to locate the fugitive.

Incident Overview

Officials realized Jacob Morley was unaccounted for around 11:30 p.m. Sunday at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, according to a statement from the Tennessee Department of Correction. Investigators reviewed security cameras and determined Morley escaped while wearing his prison uniform by slipping through a fence, though officials did not release specific details on how he breached the perimeter.

Later, surveillance tape released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation showed Morley stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 with Tennessee plates and a Lindamood Planting Company logo on the door at around 1:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The vehicle theft occurred in Lake County, which includes Tiptonville.

Timeline of Events

1. Sunday, approximately 11:30 p.m.: Officials realized Jacob Morley was unaccounted for at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville.
2. Tuesday, approximately 1:00 a.m.: Morley stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 in Lake County.
3. Monday: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation listed Morley on its most wanted list.

Suspect Information

Jacob Morley is 28 years old, stands 5-foot-11, and weighs 240 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes. Morley was serving a life sentence for killing co-worker Cody Birchfield in 2022.

Victim Information

Cody Birchfield was killed by Morley in 2022. Birchfield's body was found in a box under Morley's Carter County home after he had been missing for a few weeks.

Police Response

Law enforcement throughout the area searched buildings and other structures near the prison, located about 90 miles north of Memphis in an isolated, rural area of flat land tucked near a bend in the Mississippi River near Missouri.

Investigation

The Tennessee Department of Correction and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are leading the investigation into the escape and subsequent vehicle theft, reviewing surveillance systems and coordinating regional search efforts.

Evidence Collected

• Surveillance footage from the Northwest Correctional Complex showing the escape in a prison uniform
• Surveillance tape from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation showing the vehicle theft
• A white 2008 Ford F-350 truck with Tennessee plates and a Lindamood Planting Company logo on the door

Arrest Details

Morley remains at large and is currently featured on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation most wanted list. Officials have offered a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest.

Charges Filed

• First-degree murder: A severe felony charge involving the unlawful killing of a human being with premeditation and deliberation, typically carrying a sentence of life imprisonment or life without parole.
• Aggravated burglary: A felony charge involving unauthorized entry into a habitation or structure with the intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault while armed or causing bodily injury.
• Tampering with evidence: A felony charge involving the alteration, destruction, or concealment of any record, document, or physical object with the intent to impair its verity or availability in an official proceeding.
• Vandalism: A property crime charge involving the intentional damage or destruction of public or private property belonging to another individual or entity.
• Evading arrest: A criminal charge applied when an individual intentionally flees or attempts to elude a law enforcement officer who is attempting to execute a lawful arrest.

Court Information

Morley was previously convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in Carter County following a 2022 case where he led police on a chase ending in North Carolina. No new court docket or hearing numbers have been released regarding the current escape.

Statements from Authorities

The Tennessee Department of Correction and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued statements detailing the timeline of the escape and the release of surveillance footage. Authorities urged residents of the area from which the car was stolen to check home security systems, including doorbell cameras and trail cameras, for any sightings of Morley or the stolen truck.

Public Safety Information

Residents in Tiptonville, Lake County, and surrounding areas are advised to remain vigilant, secure their properties and vehicles, and review home security footage. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jacob Morley or the stolen white Ford F-350 should immediately contact local law enforcement or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. If you witness a crime in progress or have an emergency, call 911.

What Happens Next

Upon apprehension, Morley will be taken into custody, returned to a secure correctional facility, and face potential new felony charges related to the prison escape and vehicle theft, followed by subsequent court proceedings.