Manhunt Underway for Convicted Murderer Who Escaped Tennessee Prison
Authorities are searching for Jacob Morley, who serving a life sentence for murder, after he breached a prison fence and later stole a pickup truck.
A statewide manhunt has been launched for Jacob Morley, 28, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, who escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, late Sunday night. Residents have been warned not to approach the dangerous fugitive.
Morley breached a security fence and disappeared from the facility wearing his prison uniform. The escape was discovered around 11:30 p.m. Sunday during an emergency headcount. Surveillance footage confirmed that Morley exited the facility by breaching the perimeter fence.
In a developing aspect of the search, investigators announced Monday evening that Morley stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck, which has the name Lindamood Planting Company on its side, shortly after his escape. The theft of the truck, captured on surveillance footage, suggests he may have traveled a significant distance from the prison.
Authorities are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to Morley's capture and have added him to Tennessee's Most Wanted list. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is coordinating the search, which involves local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has deployed troopers and aircraft to assist.
Morley was serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of Cody Birchfield. Birchfield vanished in February 2022, and his remains were discovered buried beneath Morley's home in March 2022. Morley was convicted of the murder in February 2025 and sentenced in June of that year.
Law enforcement is urging residents in the vicinity of the prison to check home security footage for any suspicious activity that might help track Morley's movements. They stressed that the public should not attempt to apprehend Morley themselves and to contact authorities immediately if he or the stolen vehicle are spotted.
How Morley managed to breach the prison's perimeter defenses and escape without immediate detection remains under investigation. Details regarding the specific security failures that allowed his escape have not yet been released.