Daijiworld Media Network - Tennessee
Tennessee, Oct 27: Authorities in Tennessee have launched a manhunt for a convicted murderer who escaped from prison, allegedly stole a work truck and remains at large.
Jacob Allen Morley, 28, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville sometime before prison officials reported him missing at 11.30 pm on Sunday, according to the Tennessee Department of Correction.
A review of security camera footage confirmed that Morley breached the perimeter fence and left the facility wearing his prison uniform, the department said in a statement on Monday.
By 1 am on Monday, he allegedly stole a white Ford F-350 flatbed truck in Tiptonville, a city of around 3,500 people located about 100 miles north of Memphis.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has placed Morley on its most-wanted list and urged residents to check security footage for possible sightings of the fugitive or the stolen vehicle.
Residents have been asked to review footage from home security systems, doorbell cameras and trail cameras for any information that could help locate him.
Security footage reportedly shows a man wearing a beanie walking around the rear of the flatbed truck before approaching the driver's-side door. The windshield wipers are then seen moving before the vehicle drives away.
Morley is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs around 240 pounds, according to the Department of Correction.
A reward of up to $2,500 has been announced for information leading to his capture. Anyone who spots Morley has been asked to immediately call 911 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Morley was convicted of murdering his co-worker, Cody Birchfield, 34, in 2022. Court documents shared by the Carter County Clerk's Office state that Morley fatally shot Birchfield in the back of the head. Birchfield's body was later found inside a large metal box beneath Morley's residence.
Morley was convicted in February 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was also found guilty of abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and aggravated burglary, the latter charge involving the theft of tools belonging to the victim.
During the trial, Morley was described as a loner, according to the clerk's office. He claimed that he had acted in self-defence and said he had mental health issues, including bipolar disorder.