Jacob Allen Morley breached a prison fence Sunday night and later stole a pickup truck as local, state and federal authorities searched for him.
TIPTONVILLE, TN — A multi-agency manhunt was underway Tuesday for a 28-year-old convicted murderer who escaped from a northwestern Tennessee prison, breached its perimeter fence and later stole a pickup truck, according to state authorities.
Jacob Allen Morley escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville late Sunday while serving a life sentence for first-degree murder and other crimes, the Tennessee Department of Correction said. Prison staff confirmed Morley was missing at about 11:30 p.m. Oct. 25 and immediately began an emergency count and search. A review of security cameras showed Morley crossing the facility’s perimeter fence while still wearing his correctional uniform.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation added Morley to the state’s Most Wanted list Monday and said he should be considered dangerous. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to his arrest. Corrections officials said local, state and federal agencies were coordinating the search, while the Tennessee Highway Patrol deployed troopers and aviation resources to assist.
Investigators later determined that Morley stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck at about 1 a.m. Monday from the 400 block of Keystone Drive in Lake County, roughly two miles south of the correctional complex. Authorities said the truck bears Tennessee license plate 138BBQV and has Lindamood Planting Company markings on its side. An air compressor was also reported to be in the truck bed.
The Department of Correction said officers had searched and cleared buildings and other structures in the area surrounding the prison as the operation expanded. Authorities also asked residents to review doorbell cameras, home surveillance systems, hunting cameras and trail cameras for anything that might show Morley or the stolen vehicle. Officials warned members of the public not to approach him.
Morley is described by the Department of Correction as about 5 feet 11 inches tall and approximately 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. The TBI listed him as wanted for escape. Authorities had not announced his capture as of early Tuesday, and officials had not released a detailed explanation of how he was able to breach the prison’s security perimeter beyond what was visible on surveillance footage.
Morley was serving a life sentence stemming from the killing of Cody Birchfield in Carter County in 2022. State corrections officials said Morley was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest and vandalism. The Department of Correction did not provide additional details about the underlying case in its announcement of the escape.
Carter County authorities began investigating Birchfield’s disappearance after a family member reported him missing in February 2022. The Carter County Sheriff’s Office said at the time that investigators found evidence indicating a violent crime had occurred. Morley was taken into custody in North Carolina following a vehicle pursuit in early March 2022, and investigators later found Birchfield’s body while executing a search warrant at Morley’s residence.
The search for Morley continued with multiple agencies involved and investigators following possible evidence beyond the prison grounds. The Department of Correction said public safety remained its priority, while the TBI continued to seek information that could lead authorities to Morley or the stolen truck.
Author note: Last updated October 27, 2026.