Jacob Morley, a convicted murderer who escaped from a Tennessee prison over a week ago, was captured Tuesday in Missouri, authorities confirmed.
Morley, 28, had been serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of his co-worker, Cody Birchfield. He escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, on Oct. 25. Officials said he slipped through a fence in his prison clothes and later stole a truck from a nearby farm. The stolen truck was discovered abandoned in Marion, Illinois.
A manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies ensued. Prison officials had offered a reward of up to $17,500 for information leading to Morley's arrest.
The escape highlights recent issues within Tennessee's prison system. The Northwest Correctional Complex has seen multiple violent incidents and inmate killings. This past July, a grand jury indicted inmates for five killings and other violent acts at the facility. The resignation of the Department of Correction Commissioner in September followed a botched execution. State Sen. Tom Hatcher has called for new leadership within the department.
Morley was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism, and evading arrest.