Tennessee Murder Suspect’s Escape Leaves Victim’s Family Unnotified
WHO:
TMZ - An unnamed woman who grew up with Jacob Allen Morley described him as “extremely dangerous” and said she was “absolutely horrified” by his escape, according to NewsNation.
The Washington Post - Jacob Allen Morley is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.
TMZ - Jacob Allen Morley is the convicted killer who escaped; Carrie Norman is the sister of victim Cody Birchfield.
The Guardian - Jacob Morley, 28, was serving a life sentence for Birchfield’s murder. The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) and prison officials reported the escape and search.
The Guardian - Birchfield was Morley’s co-worker. Morley was also convicted of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism, and evading arrest.
WHAT:
The Washington Post - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Morley stole a white 2008 Ford F-350.
The Washington Post - The stolen truck was a white 2008 Ford F-350.
TMZ - Norman said law enforcement had not contacted her to notify her about Morley’s escape.
The Guardian - Authorities searched for Morley after he escaped from prison; a reward of up to $2,500 was offered for his arrest.
The Guardian - Officials said security footage showed Morley escaping through a fence in his prison uniform. Video reportedly showed him stealing a truck and later passing the Hornbeak fire department.
The Guardian - Morley was sentenced to life for killing Birchfield. Birchfield’s body was found in a box beneath Morley’s home after Birchfield had been missing for a few weeks.
The Guardian - The Northwest Correctional Complex can house 1,776 men and minors convicted as adults. A prison audit found a 61% vacancy rate for correctional officers at the complex in the fiscal year covered by the audit.
WHERE:
The Guardian - Morley escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. The prison is about 90 miles (145km) north of Memphis, in a rural area near a bend in the Mississippi River and close to Missouri.
The Guardian - The truck was seen passing the Hornbeak fire department, about 15 miles from the correctional complex.
The Guardian - Birchfield’s body was found beneath Morley’s home in Carter County, Tennessee. Morley’s 2022 police chase ended in North Carolina.
WHEN:
The Washington Post - Authorities said Morley was reported missing around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, and the truck was stolen by 1 a.m.
The Guardian - Officials realized Morley was unaccounted for at about 11.30pm on Sunday. Surveillance video reportedly showed him stealing a truck at about 1am on Monday and passing the Hornbeak fire department at about 1.18am.
The Guardian - Morley killed Birchfield in 2022. In July, a grand jury issued dozens of indictments related to violence at the complex; a prison audit in 2023 documented the correctional-officer vacancy rate.
WHY:
TMZ - Norman said she had no way of knowing about the escape from law enforcement because no one called to notify her.
The Guardian - Authorities said Morley’s escape was discovered when he was found to be unaccounted for; officials did not disclose how he got through the fence.
HOW:
The Guardian - Investigators reviewed security-camera footage to determine that Morley slipped through a fence while wearing his prison uniform. Surveillance video reportedly showed him taking a truck.
The Guardian - Authorities searched buildings and other structures near the prison. In 2022, Morley led police on a chase that ended in North Carolina after seeing officers at his home in connection with Birchfield.
(UPDATED October 28, 2026 03:00 UTC)
Authorities are searching for Jacob Allen Morley, a convicted killer serving a life sentence, after he escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee; officials say security footage showed him slipping through a fence in his prison uniform. Investigators say he stole a white 2008 Ford F-350, which was later seen near the prison, and authorities are offering up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest. Morley was convicted of killing his co-worker Cody Birchfield, whose body was found in a box beneath Morley’s home, and Birchfield’s sister says law enforcement did not notify her about the escape.
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(UPDATED October 28, 2026 02:03 UTC)
Authorities are searching for Jacob Allen Morley, a 28-year-old serving a life sentence for killing his co-worker Cody Birchfield, after he escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Security footage showed Morley slipping through a fence in his prison uniform and stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350, which was later seen near the Hornbeak fire department; authorities are offering up to $2,500 for his arrest. Birchfield’s sister, Carrie Norman, said law enforcement had not contacted her to tell her about the escape; Birchfield’s body was found in a box beneath Morley’s home.
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(UPDATED October 27, 2026 19:07 UTC)
Authorities are searching for Jacob Morley, who escaped from Tennessee’s Northwest Correctional Complex while serving a life sentence for killing his co-worker, Cody Birchfield, and offered a reward of up to $2,500 for his arrest. Security footage showed Morley slipping through a fence in his prison uniform and later taking a truck, while officials said they discovered he was missing after a count; Birchfield’s sister, Carrie Norman, said law enforcement had not notified her of the escape. Officials searched buildings and structures near the prison, but have not disclosed how Morley got through the fence.