Authorities have confirmed that Jacob Morley, 28, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, by slipping through a fence. Prison officials realized Morley was unaccounted for at around 11:30pm on Sunday, October 25.
Escape Details and Public Warning
A statement from the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) said: "Morley has been added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list, and a reward of up to $2,500 is available for information leading to his arrest."
The statement continued: "Residents in the area are asked to check home security and doorbell cameras, trail and hunting cameras, and other surveillance systems for possible sightings or activity. Anyone who sees Morley or has information about his whereabouts should not approach him. Call 911 immediately or contact TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND."
Investigators reviewed security cameras and saw Morley escape while wearing his prison uniform, officials said. They did not release any other details, including how Morley got through the fence.
Search Underway and Background
Prison officials said law enforcement throughout the area has searched buildings and other structures near the prison, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Memphis in an isolated, rural area of flat land near a bend in the Mississippi River near Missouri. They added that "aviation assets" have been deployed to assist with the search.
Morley is 5-foot-11 (1.8 meters) and 240 pounds (109 kilograms), with brown hair and green eyes. He was sentenced to life for killing co-worker Cody Birchfield in 2022. Birchfield’s body was found in a box under Morley’s Carter County home after he had been missing for a few weeks.
Along with first-degree murder, Morley was also convicted of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism and evading arrest. When Morley saw deputies at his home in 2022, he led police on a chase that ended in North Carolina, authorities said.
Recent Scandals in Tennessee Prisons
Several violent attacks between inmates and by employees have been reported in recent years at Northwest Correctional Complex. A grand jury in July returned dozens of indictments for five inmate murders, assaults against staff and inmates and other violence.
News of Morley's escape is the latest scandal to hit the Tennessee prisons system. The state government is still dealing with the aftermath of the failed execution of Christa Pike, held in another TDOC facility, last month. Pike, also a convicted murderer, survived two lethal injections and was rushed to hospital; she is now said to be talking in full sentences. Following that incident, TDOC Commissioner Frank Strada resigned, a decision he said is "in the best interests" of the state.
