A convicted murderer serving a life sentence for killing a man and hiding his body beneath a house has escaped from a Tennessee prison, triggering a massive manhunt as authorities warn residents not to approach the dangerous fugitive.
Jacob Allen Morley, 28, vanished from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville late Sunday, October 25, after apparently making his way through the facility’s perimeter fence. Investigators have since uncovered surveillance footage showing him stealing a pickup truck, raising fears that he could have traveled well beyond the area surrounding the prison.
The alarming escape has prompted a coordinated search involving local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, with authorities offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest.
According to the Tennessee Department of Correction, prison employees discovered Morley was missing at approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday, prompting an emergency inmate count and a search of the facility. When officers reviewed security footage, they discovered that Morley had breached the prison’s perimeter fence and fled while still wearing his state-issued prison uniform.
Officials have not explained exactly how he managed to get through the fence or how long he may have been outside the facility before his disappearance was discovered.
The search took another troubling turn when investigators linked Morley to the theft of a heavy-duty pickup truck. Authorities released surveillance footage showing the vehicle being taken after the escape, providing investigators with another clue as they attempted to track his movements.
The prison is located in Lake County, in the northwestern corner of Tennessee near the Kentucky and Missouri borders, an area of rural roads, farmland and small communities. The surrounding terrain has added urgency to efforts to determine which direction the escaped inmate may have traveled.
Law enforcement officers have searched buildings and structures near the prison, while the Tennessee Highway Patrol has deployed additional troopers and aircraft to assist in the operation. Residents have also been asked to examine security cameras, doorbell footage, hunting cameras and other surveillance systems for anything that might help investigators reconstruct Morley’s movements.
The escape is especially concerning because of the violent crime that originally sent Morley to prison.
In 2025, he was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Cody Birchfield, a man whose disappearance in East Tennessee had led investigators to a disturbing discovery three years earlier.
Birchfield was reported missing in February 2022, prompting an investigation that eventually focused on Morley, who had reportedly worked with the victim.
Investigators subsequently discovered Birchfield’s body concealed beneath Morley’s residence in Carter County. The discovery turned the missing-person investigation into a homicide case and ultimately led to Morley’s prosecution.
Following his conviction, Morley was sentenced to life in prison. He was also found guilty of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest and vandalism, offenses connected to the broader investigation.
The severity of those crimes has made his disappearance particularly alarming for authorities, who are urging the public to exercise caution rather than attempt to confront him.
Morley is described as a white man standing approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Although he was last seen leaving the prison wearing his correctional uniform, investigators have not confirmed whether he has since changed clothes.
His name has been added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list, and authorities have offered a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to his arrest.
The escape has also renewed attention on security concerns at Northwest Correctional Complex, a facility that has previously faced scrutiny over violence and staffing shortages. A state audit covering the 2023 fiscal year found that approximately 61% of its correctional officer positions were vacant, although authorities have not indicated whether staffing problems played any role in Morley’s escape.
For now, investigators remain focused on locating the fugitive and determining how he managed to get beyond the prison’s security perimeter.
Authorities have not publicly announced any arrests connected to the escape or explained whether Morley received outside assistance.
Anyone who believes they have spotted Morley is urged not to approach him. Instead, residents should immediately contact 911 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
If you are going to send out an alert that a killer has escaped, it might be a good idea to add his photo to the story. This just tells us that people are in danger and there is a manhunt ongoing. We can’t assist the police if we don’t know what he looks like.