Tennessee Man Convicted Of Killing Co-Employee Escapes Jail

A person serving a life sentence for killing his co-worker 4 years in the past has escaped from a jail in northwest Tennessee. Jacob Morley slipped by means of a fence. Following his escape, Morley allegedly stole a truck from a close-by farm and apparently made it to southern Illinois earlier than abandoning it, authorities added in an replace on Tuesday. Officers observed his escape from the Northwest Correctional Complicated late on Sunday (Oct. 25).

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How Did Jacob Morley Escape Tennessee Jail?

Authorities mentioned Morley, 28, slipped by means of a fence in his jail garments. Nevertheless, they haven’t launched extra particulars, together with whether or not they assume anybody helped him. Morley is white, 5 toes 11 inches tall and weighs 240 kilos. He has brown hair and inexperienced eyes.

Moreover, Jacob Morley is serving a life sentence for killing co-worker Cody Birchfield in 2022. Birchfield’s physique was present in a field beneath Morley’s dwelling after he had been lacking for a number of weeks. The 2 lived in Carter County, in jap Tennessee. Together with first-degree homicide, Morley was convicted of aggravated housebreaking, tampering with proof, vandalism and evading arrest. When Jacob Morley noticed deputies at his dwelling, he led officers on a chase that resulted in North Carolina, authorities mentioned.

Tennessee inmate Jacob Morley escapes prison fence stolen truck found abandoned Illinois — This reserving picture launched by the Tennessee Division of Corrections on July 24, 2025, reveals Jacob Morley. (Tennessee Division of Corrections through AP)

How Did The Stolen Truck Get To Tennessee?

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation launched surveillance video from the farm Jacob Morley breached. It’s close to Tiptonville and a few 2-mile stroll by means of fields from the jail. The footage reveals Morley opening the truck’s unlocked driver’s aspect door and driving off at about 1 a.m. Monday. Firefighters in Hornbeak mentioned on social media that investigators confirmed their cameras captured footage of the truck driving by their station about quarter-hour later. The station is about 12 miles east of the farm.

Somebody discovered the truck deserted Tuesday in Marion, Illinois, about 120 miles north of the jail and roughly 90 miles southeast of St. Louis. Marion Police Chief David Fitts mentioned the truck seemed to be left neatly parked behind a shopping mall at 4 a.m. Tuesday, based on surveillance video.
Somebody reported it to police at about 11 a.m.

Jail Officers Providing A Reward For Jacob Morley

Tennessee investigators mentioned they nonetheless haven’t discovered Jacob Morley.

“He has vanished,” Fitts mentioned. “We haven’t had any experiences of stolen automobiles or the rest suspicious round right here.”

Jail officers have provided a reward of as much as $2,500 for Morley’s arrest. They mentioned regulation enforcement companies have searched buildings and different constructions close to the jail, which is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Memphis in flat farmland close to a bend within the Mississippi River.