Convicted murderer Jacob Morley remains at large after escaping Tennessee prison via fence breach

Key points

• Morley was discovered missing at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee.
• Security footage shows Morley exiting the facility through a fence in his prison uniform; the specific method of breach was not disclosed by officials.
• The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed Morley stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 with Tennessee plates around 1:00 a.m. on Monday, October 26.
• Morley was recorded passing the Hornbeak fire department, approximately 15 miles from the prison, at 1:18 a.m. Monday.
• A $2,500 reward is offered for information leading to Morley's arrest, and he has been added to the state's Most Wanted list.
• Morley is 5ft 11in, 240lb, with brown hair and green eyes.

Background

Morley was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 for the first-degree murder of his co-worker, Cody Birchfield. Birchfield's body was found in a box under Morley's home in Carter County, Tennessee, after he had been reported missing for several weeks. Morley was also convicted of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism, and evading arrest. In 2022, he led police on a chase that ended in North Carolina after deputies arrived at his home. The Northwest Correctional Complex, which houses up to 1,776 male inmates, has faced significant staffing issues; a 2023 audit found a 61% vacancy rate for correctional officers at the facility. In July 2026, a grand jury returned dozens of indictments for five inmate murders and assaults against staff at the complex.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian, AP, and CNN all report the core facts of the escape, the stolen truck, and the ongoing manhunt. CNN explicitly notes that Morley is the second inmate to escape from the Tennessee Department of Correction in the past week, a detail not emphasized in the other sources. All outlets agree that the specific method by which Morley breached the fence remains unclear, though security footage confirmed he left in his prison uniform. The AP and Guardian highlight the rural, isolated nature of the search area near the Mississippi River, while CNN provides the specific make and model of the stolen vehicle (2008 Ford F-350).

Why it matters

The escape highlights ongoing security and staffing challenges at Tennessee's Northwest Correctional Complex, which has faced a high vacancy rate for correctional officers and recent violent incidents. The incident adds to a pattern of escapes and security breaches in the state's correctional system, raising concerns about inmate safety and public security.

What to watch

Law enforcement agencies are continuing to search buildings and structures in the rural area near the prison. The public is urged not to approach Morley and to contact authorities with any information. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is actively pursuing Morley, who remains at large as of the latest reports.