- Jacob Morley, a convicted murderer, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tennessee late Sunday night by breaching the perimeter fence and leaving in his prison uniform.
- Morley was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Cody Birchfield, whose body was found in a box under Morley’s house weeks after he was reported missing.
- At around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, staff at the Northwest Correctional Complex discovered Morley was missing.
- Security camera footage showed Morley breached the perimeter fence and left the facility wearing his prison uniform.
- Around 1 a.m. on October 26, Morley stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 with Tennessee plates.
- A fire department camera captured Morley passing in front of the building in the stolen truck around 1:18 a.m..
- Morley is now on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's most wanted list, with a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest.
Tennessee authorities are on the hunt for Jacob Morley, a 28-year-old convicted murderer who escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex late Sunday night. Morley, serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, breached the prison's perimeter fence and stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 truck around 1 a.m. on October 26.1236
Security footage captured Morley driving the stolen vehicle shortly after his escape, with the truck seen passing in front of a fire department building at approximately 1:18 a.m. The prison staff discovered his absence around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, prompting an immediate search by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which has placed Morley on its “Most Wanted” list. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to his arrest.478
Morley was convicted in the murder of Cody Birchfield, whose body was found under Morley’s house weeks after he was reported missing in February 2022. In addition to first-degree murder, Morley was also convicted of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest, and vandalism. This escape marks the second time in a week that an inmate has fled from the Tennessee Department of Correction's custody, raising concerns about prison security.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Morley’s whereabouts to contact them immediately as the search continues.
“Morley, serving life for the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield whose body was found under his house, is the second escapee from TDOC custody in a week. The Northwest Correctional Complex holds up to 1,776 inmates, raising questions about security after the breach.”
