A multi-state manhunt is underway for Jacob Allen Morley, a 28-year-old convicted murderer serving a life sentence, after he broke out of a West Tennessee prison late Sunday night and stole a work truck to flee.
Morley was discovered missing from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Lake County — roughly 90 miles north of Memphis — around 11:30 p.m. on October 25, 2026. Prison staff immediately launched an emergency count and facility-wide search. Security camera footage later confirmed he had breached the perimeter fence and left the grounds still wearing his Tennessee Department of Correction uniform. Officials have not released details on exactly how he got through the fence.
Less than two hours later, around 1 a.m. on October 26, surveillance video captured Morley stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 from the 400 block of Keystone Drive, about two miles from the prison. The truck, marked with Lindamood Planting Company on the door, carried Tennessee license plate 138BBQV and had an air compressor in the bed. Footage showed him circling the vehicle, opening the unlocked driver’s side door, and driving off. The truck was later spotted passing the Hornbeak Fire Department around 1:18 a.m. and through the nearby town of Troy.
On Tuesday, October 27, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced the stolen truck had been found abandoned in Marion, Illinois — about 120 miles north of the prison. Surveillance video indicated it was neatly parked behind a shopping center around 4 a.m. A local resident who recognized the vehicle from news reports alerted police later that morning. Marion police, along with other agencies including the U.S. Marshals, searched the area but found no evidence Morley remained nearby. As of October 28, his location is unknown.
Morley has been added to the TBI’s Most Wanted list. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to his arrest. He is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, approximately 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes, and is considered dangerous. Authorities, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol with aviation support, are coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies. The public is urged not to approach him and to call 911 or 1-800-TBI-FIND immediately with any tips. Residents are also asked to review doorbell, trail, and security camera footage for possible sightings.
The Crime That Put Him Away
Morley was serving life (with a projected release date around December 2083) after a 2025 conviction for the first-degree murder of his coworker and friend Cody Birchfield, 34, of Elizabethton in Carter County. Birchfield was last seen with Morley around February 21, 2022, and reported missing two days later. Investigators found signs of a violent crime at Birchfield’s home, including blood-like stains and a bullet casing.
On March 2, 2022, when deputies arrived at Morley’s residence, he fled. A pursuit crossed into North Carolina, where Avery County officers used spike strips to stop him. Birchfield’s body was then discovered in a metal box under Morley’s house, where it had been hidden for nearly three weeks. An autopsy determined he died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head; casings matched a gun found at the property.
The two had worked together at a pallet manufacturing company, where Birchfield had been training Morley. At trial, Morley’s former girlfriend testified that he had told her he “f***ing killed him.” Morley was also convicted of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, evading arrest, and vandalism. His defense raised mental health issues, including bipolar disorder.
Victim’s Friends Sound the Alarm
Friends of Birchfield have expressed outrage and fear. Longtime friend Diana Reid said she and the family learned of the escape through Facebook rather than the official victim notification system. She called the situation disturbing, noting that justice felt undone after the life sentence. Reid has publicly warned that people should learn Morley’s face because “someone could unknowingly cross paths with him” and that he is extremely dangerous.
Another friend, Daniel Russell, who described Birchfield as like a brother, said: “If he will kill somebody the way he killed Cody, he’s a monster. He will do it again when the first opportunity comes.”
Carter County authorities have assisted in the search but stated early on they had no indication Morley had returned to Northeast Tennessee.
This marks the second escape from TDOC custody in roughly a week. Some reports have noted the Northwest Correctional Complex previously recorded high correctional officer vacancy rates (61% in a 2023 fiscal year audit), though officials have not linked staffing levels to this escape. The facility houses up to about 1,776 men in a rural area near the Mississippi River.
Law enforcement continues to treat public safety as the top priority while the search expands across state lines. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities immediately and avoid any direct contact with Morley.
