Manhunt grows for escaped murderer who may have left area where truck was ditched

A nationwide manhunt is expanding for Jacob Morley, an escaped Tennessee murderer whose stolen work truck was discovered abandoned in southern Illinois, according to authorities.

Law enforcement officials in Marion, Illinois, and Tennessee are searching for the 28-year-old inmate, who broke out of a correctional facility over the weekend and may have already fled the immediate area where his vehicle was left.

Incident Overview

Jacob Morley was serving a life sentence for murder when he escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, sometime before 11:30 p.m. Sunday. According to the Tennessee Department of Correction, staff members discovered he was unaccounted for during an emergency count, and security video subsequently showed him breaching the facility perimeter fence wearing his prison uniform.

Following his escape, Morley stole a work truck and drove approximately 100 miles north to Marion, Illinois, a town of roughly 16,000 residents situated along Interstate 57. By early Tuesday, the stolen vehicle was discovered abandoned behind a business in Marion. Security footage later captured the fugitive driving away from the scene in a secondary vehicle, a flatbed truck, leaving investigators to pursue leads across multiple state lines.

Timeline of Events

1. Sunday night: Prison officials in Tiptonville, Tennessee, confirm Jacob Morley is unaccounted for during an emergency count after he breaches the facility perimeter fence.
2. Early Tuesday: The stolen work truck driven by Morley is located behind a business in Marion, Illinois.
3. Wednesday: Marion Police Chief David Fitts announces that security footage captured Morley driving away in a flatbed truck, while officials increase the reward for information to $15,000.

Suspect Information

Jacob Morley, 28, is a convicted killer who was serving a life sentence at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tennessee. He was previously convicted in February 2025 of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and aggravated burglary, and also pleaded guilty to theft of property for killing a co-worker in 2022.

Victim Information

The victim in the underlying homicide case was Cody Birchfield, whose body was discovered in 2022 inside a large metal box under Morley's residence after he was shot in the back of the head. Birchfield's sister, Carrie Norman, spoke out following the escape, stating that the situation forces the family to relive the trauma while knowing what the fugitive is capable of.

Police Response

The Marion Police Department, alongside the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service, mobilized resources to locate the escaped inmate, reviewing local security camera footage and coordinating regional patrols after the abandoned vehicle was discovered.

Investigation

The multi-agency investigation involves state and federal entities tracking Morley's movements from Tennessee into Illinois. Authorities are examining interstate travel patterns, reviewing surveillance video from businesses near where the trucks were dumped, and pursuing tips from the public.

Evidence Collected

• A stolen work truck abandoned behind a Marion business
• Security video footage showing Morley driving a flatbed truck
• Prison surveillance footage documenting the perimeter breach in a Tennessee Department of Correction uniform

Arrest Details

Morley remains at large. Law enforcement agencies have not yet captured the fugitive, though a combined reward of $15,000 has been offered by the Tennessee governor's office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service for information leading to his arrest.

Charges Filed

• First-degree murder: The unlawful, premeditated killing of another human being.
• Abuse of a corpse: The illegal mishandling, desecration, or failure to report the death of a body in accordance with statutory laws.
• Tampering with evidence: Altering, destroying, or concealing physical items related to a crime to obstruct an official investigation.
• Aggravated burglary: Unlawfully entering a structure with the intent to commit a felony while armed or causing injury.
• Theft of property: The unauthorized taking and carrying away of another person's personal goods or motor vehicle.

Court Information

Morley was previously convicted following a trial in February 2025. Additional criminal charges related to his prison escape and vehicle thefts are anticipated as the investigation continues across jurisdictions.

Statements from Authorities

“What we have seen kind of leads us in the direction that he’s not still here. But that doesn’t mean that we’ve stopped looking,” Marion Police Chief David Fitts said. Fitts added, “Have no idea why he would come here, other than I-57 is a major interstate and it runs right through the middle of our town. And I don’t know, maybe he was low on gas and just pulled off. I don’t know.”

Public Safety Information

Law enforcement officials have urged members of the public not to approach Morley if he is spotted, as he is considered dangerous and is serving a life sentence for murder. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should immediately contact emergency services by dialing 911 or call federal and state tip lines.

What Happens Next

Law enforcement agencies will continue coordinating regional searches, analyzing digital evidence, and processing tips from the public. Once captured, Morley will face extradition proceedings back to Tennessee to complete his life sentence alongside any new charges filed in connection with his escape and vehicle thefts.