A close friend of a murder victim from Tennessee is worried that the man who killed him might strike again after recently escaping from prison, which has led to a multi-state manhunt.
Jacob Allen Morley managed to break out of the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, on Sunday, although officials haven’t specified the exact time of his escape.
Prison staff realized Morley was missing just before midnight, and a review of surveillance footage revealed that he had cut through the facility’s perimeter fence.
At around 1 a.m. Monday, Morley was seen on video stealing a pickup truck from a nearby area, about two miles from the prison, as reported by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The truck, a white 2008 Ford F-350 with the Tennessee license plate 138BBQV, is marked with “Lindamood Planting Company” on its side.
Morley had been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty in 2025 for the murder of Cody Birchfield three years earlier.
On Tuesday, officials announced that the stolen truck was located abandoned in Marion, Illinois, but Morley’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Diana Reid, a close childhood friend of Birchfield, expressed her fears about Morley potentially harming others while on the run. “He’s already been convicted of taking an innocent life. I believe he’s extremely dangerous, and I’m genuinely concerned that someone else could get hurt if he’s not caught soon,” Reid stated.
She added, “I’m really scared knowing that someone convicted of such a violent crime is out there. What he’s capable of doing next is just terrifying.”
Reid described Birchfield as “such a kind soul” who “had the biggest heart,” emphasizing that he was more than just a murder victim—he was deeply loved and had his future unjustly taken from him.
As the manhunt for Morley extends beyond the borders of Tennessee, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has urged locals to stay vigilant and check their surveillance cameras for any signs of the escaped inmate.
Morley is identified as 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing about 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Officials have classified him as dangerous, and he has been placed on the state’s most wanted list.
Along with his murder conviction, Morley was also found guilty of burglary, vandalism, tampering with evidence, and evading arrest.
Both federal and state law enforcement agencies are working together to locate Morley.
Birchfield had vanished in early February 2022 after being last seen in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Investigators later found evidence suggesting a violent crime had occurred inside his home.
On March 2, 2022, Morley was arrested after a police chase that ended near the North Carolina border. Following his arrest, Birchfield’s body was discovered under Morley’s house.
During the trial, Morley’s ex-girlfriend testified that he had admitted, “he f—ing killed him.”
Anyone with information about Morley’s whereabouts is encouraged to reach out to law enforcement.
