Convicted murderer serving life escapes through Tennessee prison fence, uses stolen truck as getaway vehicle, officials say

Tennessee Inmate Serving Life Sentence Remains at Large After Prison Escape

Sandego.net – Authorities in Tennessee are searching for Jacob Morley, a 28-year-old inmate serving a life sentence who escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex late Sunday and later fled in a stolen pickup truck.

Prison staff discovered that Morley was missing at about 11:30 p.m. on October 25. Surveillance footage later showed him leaving the facility after getting through the outer fence while still dressed in his prison uniform. Officials have not explained how the fence was breached or what circumstances enabled him to leave the prison grounds.

Morley had been incarcerated following convictions that included first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, evidence tampering, evading arrest and vandalism. His life sentence stemmed from the killing of Cody Birchfield.

Stolen Ford Truck Identified in Search

Investigators believe Morley continued his escape after leaving the correctional complex by taking a white 2008 Ford F-350 with Tennessee license plates. Video reviewed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation showed the truck being stolen at roughly 1 a.m. on October 26.

The Hornbeak Fire Department, located about 15 miles from the Northwest Correctional Complex, later captured footage of the same truck passing its building at approximately 1:18 a.m. The sighting provided a timeline suggesting that Morley was able to travel away from the prison shortly after the vehicle theft.

Authorities have placed Morley on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list and are offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to his arrest. Anyone who sees the truck or believes they have information about Morley’s location should avoid approaching him and contact law enforcement.

Second Escape in a Week

Morley’s disappearance marks the second escape from Tennessee Department of Correction custody within a week, increasing attention on security procedures and inmate accountability across the state prison system.

The Northwest Correctional Complex is built to hold as many as 1,776 male inmates. Located in northwest Tennessee, the facility is one of the state’s major correctional institutions, making a perimeter breach especially significant for both prison officials and surrounding communities.

Authorities have emphasized that the investigation remains active. The search involves reviewing surveillance images, tracking potential vehicle sightings and gathering information from the public. The unanswered questions surrounding the fence breach are also likely to be central to the review of the escape.

Background on Morley’s Conviction

Morley was convicted in connection with the death of Cody Birchfield, whose disappearance was first reported in February 2022. Birchfield’s body was later found inside a box beneath Morley’s home, weeks after he was reported missing.

The events leading to Morley’s arrest also included a police pursuit. When deputies arrived at his residence in 2022, he fled, and the chase ultimately ended in North Carolina. Those events later formed part of the criminal case that resulted in his convictions.

The seriousness of Morley’s sentence and prior convictions has added urgency to the current manhunt. Officials have not released information indicating where he may be headed, whether he has help or whether he changed out of the prison clothing seen in the initial security footage.

“Breached the perimeter fence”

That description from the Department of Correction remains the clearest public account of how Morley left the prison, though it does not detail the method used to get through the barrier. Investigators continue to examine the escape route, the timing of the departure and the theft of the Ford truck.

What Residents Should Watch For

Members of the public may be asked to watch for a white 2008 Ford F-350 carrying Tennessee plates, particularly in areas near the prison and along routes leading away from Hornbeak. Officials have not released further identifying details about the truck’s plate number.

Anyone with possible information is encouraged to share it with investigators rather than posting unverified sightings online. Details such as the truck’s location, direction of travel, the time it was seen and any visible changes to the vehicle may help law enforcement narrow the search.

As the search continues, prison officials face parallel questions about the security failure that allowed a life-sentenced inmate to cross the facility’s perimeter. For now, authorities remain focused on locating Morley and recovering the stolen truck.