Manhunt Underway for Escaped Murderer in Tennessee
A close friend of a murder victim from Tennessee is worried that the convicted killer could pose a danger again after escaping from prison. Jacob Allen Morley, who was serving a life sentence, made his escape from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, on Sunday. Officials have not confirmed the exact time of his escape, but prison staff reported his absence around 11:30 p.m. A review of surveillance footage indicated that Morley had breached the facility’s perimeter fence.
By 1 a.m. Monday, Morley was seen on camera stealing a pickup truck from a nearby residential area, about two miles from the prison. The vehicle, a white 2008 Ford F-350, is marked with “Lindamood Planting Company” and has the Tennessee license plate 138BBQV.
Tennessee Inmate Escapes, Sparks Manhunt
Morley had been convicted of the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield and sentenced to life in prison in 2025. Diana Reid, Birchfield’s close friend, expressed her fears about Morley’s potential actions now that he’s on the run. “He’s a convicted killer. I truly believe he’s very dangerous and I’m really worried that he could hurt someone else if he’s not caught quickly,” she stated. Reid shared that knowing a person capable of such violence is free is genuinely terrifying.
Reid described Birchfield as “a kind soul” and “someone who was deeply loved,” lamenting that he had so much life ahead of him before it was tragically cut short.
As authorities expanded the manhunt beyond Tennessee, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reminded residents to remain vigilant and check their surveillance cameras for any signs of the escaped inmate. Morley is approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs around 240 pounds, has brown hair and green eyes, and is classified as dangerous, making the state’s most wanted list.
In addition to first-degree murder, Morley was also convicted of burglary, vandalism, tampering with evidence, and evading arrest. Federal and state law enforcement agencies are aiding in the search for Morley.
Birchfield vanished in early February 2022, last seen in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and investigators later found evidence of a “violent crime” in his home. After a police chase leading to the North Carolina state line on March 2, 2022, Morley was apprehended, and Birchfield’s body was subsequently discovered beneath Morley’s residence.
Anyone with information about Morley’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact authorities at 844-832-3463.
