A convicted murderer who slipped past a prison fence is still at large nearly a week after walking out of a Tennessee correctional facility, according to authorities who are urging the public to stay alert as the search widens across state lines.
Jacob Allen Morley, 28, escaped the Northwest Correctional Complex in Lake County, Tennessee, on the evening of Sunday, October 25, where he had been serving a life sentence for the 2022 killing of his coworker.
Days later, a stolen truck tied to his escape turned up roughly 100 to 120 miles north of the prison in Illinois — and the reward for information leading to his capture has climbed to $17,500.
Jacob Allen Morley’s Escape From Tennessee Prison
Morley got out of the Lake County prison by slipping through a fence while still wearing his prison uniform, according to the Associated Press.
Officials with the Tennessee Department of Correction discovered he was missing around 11:30 p.m. the night of Sunday, October 25. The Northwest Correctional Complex has the capacity to house up to 1,776 male inmates.
By Monday, October 26, investigators had searched and cleared buildings and structures in the surrounding area, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol had deployed aviation assets and state troopers to assist with the search.
Stolen Truck Found During Jacob Allen Morley Manhunt
Hours after his escape, Morley allegedly stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 belonging to Lindamood Planting Company, a farming business based in Tiptonville.
Surveillance footage released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation showed Morley taking the vehicle from Lake County, Tennessee, around 1 a.m. on Monday, October 26. The truck was discovered abandoned in Marion, Illinois, the morning of Tuesday, October 27, roughly 100 to 120 miles north of the prison.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said a reward for information leading to Morley’s arrest increased to $17,500 in a Facebook update shared Friday, October 30.
Morley is still on the run as of October 30, according to the agency.
“Morley is considered dangerous and could be anywhere. We ask the public to remain vigilant, check on family members and neighbors, and be alert for suspicious activity on your properties, including vacant homes, vacation properties, and outbuildings,” the agency said.
Jacob Allen Morley Convicted in The Murder of Cody Birchfield
Morley was serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of 34-year-old Cody Birchfield, his coworker at Oliver Wood Working, a wood packaging company, NBC News reported.
Birchfield’s sister, Carrie Norman, reported her brother missing in February 2022 after she hadn’t heard from him and couldn’t reach him at his trailer in Elizabethton, Tennessee, or at his job, per NBC News.
He was last seen alive on February 18, 2022, when Morley had driven him home from work, according to WBBJ-TV.
Birchfield’s body was found in a metal box buried below Morley’s home in March 2022, per court filings provided to NBC News. Morley allegedly fatally shot Birchfield in the head. He was apprehended in Avery County, North Carolina, on March 2, 2022, a few weeks after Birchfield went missing.
Following his arrest, Morley admitted to visiting Birchfield’s home to “rob him” before the killing allegedly ensued, according to investigator Jenna Markland with the Carter County Sheriff’s Department, WBBJ-TV reported. In February 2025, Morley was found guilty of murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and aggravated burglary. He was sentenced in the case in June 2025.
Jacob Allen Morley’s Description and Warnings From Authorities
Morley is described as 6 feet tall, weighing around 240 to 270 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has added him to the state’s most wanted list.
“Anyone who sees Morley or has information about his whereabouts should not approach him,” the Tennessee Department of Correction has said.
Those who knew Birchfield say the stakes could not be higher.
“He’s a very dangerous man,” Norman said in an interview with NBC News. “And if he gets ahold of any kind of weapon, he will kill somebody.”
Birchfield’s childhood best friend, Daniel Russell, echoed the warning in an interview with WMC-TV.
“If he will kill somebody the way he killed Cody, he’s a monster,” Russell told the outlet. “He will do it again when the first opportunity comes.”
Russell said Birchfield was a devoted father to his young son.
How to Report Information on Jacob Allen Morley
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is encouraging anyone with information about Morley’s whereabouts to call 1-800-TBI-FIND or 911. Those who spot him are urged to call 911 immediately rather than approach him. A reward of up to $15,000 is being offered for tips that lead to his arrest.
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
