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Authorities launch manhunt for convicted killer who escaped from Tennessee prison
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Jacob Allen Morley, a convicted murderer, escaped from Tennessee's Northwest Correctional Complex before 11:30 p.m. Sunday by breaching the perimeter fence in his prison uniform.
- After escaping, Morley allegedly stole a white Ford F-350 flatbed truck in Tiptonville, a small city near the Mississippi River and Missouri state line, by 1 a.m. Monday.
- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation placed Morley on its most-wanted list, urging residents to check security footage for sightings and offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to his capture.
- Morley was convicted of fatally shooting his co-worker Cody Birchfield in 2022, as well as abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and aggravated burglary, and was sentenced to life in prison in February 2025.
- Described as a "loner" with bipolar disorder, Morley claimed self-defense during his trial; authorities have asked anyone who sees him to call 911 or 1-800-TBI-FIND immediately.
