TIPTONVILLE, Tennessee, October 27, 2026 â A convicted murderer serving a life sentence escaped from a Tennessee prison before allegedly stealing a pickup truck, triggering a multi-agency manhunt and warnings for residents across northwest Tennessee.
Jacob Allen Morley, 28, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex late Sunday, October 25. Security footage showed him breaching the prison’s perimeter fence while wearing his correctional uniform, according to the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC).
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) placed Morley on its Most Wanted list and offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to his arrest. Authorities have warned the public not to approach him.
Jacob Allen Morley Escapes Through Tennessee Prison Fence
Prison officials discovered Morley missing at approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday and immediately initiated an emergency inmate count.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and confirmed that Morley had crossed the facility’s perimeter fence. Officials have not disclosed exactly how he breached the security barrier.
The prison is located in Tiptonville, approximately 90 miles north of Memphis, near Tennessee’s borders with Kentucky and Missouri.
TDOC said officers searched nearby buildings and structures while Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and aviation units assisted the operation.
Stolen Ford F-350 Becomes Major Lead in Manhunt
The search took another turn after investigators identified footage reportedly showing Morley stealing a pickup truck around 1 a.m. Monday, October 26.
According to the TBI, the theft occurred in the 400 block of Keystone Drive, approximately two miles south of the prison.
- Vehicle: White 2008 Ford F-350
- License plate: Tennessee 138BBQV
- Markings: Lindamood Planting Company
- Distinguishing feature: Air compressor in the truck bed
The reported vehicle theft raises concerns that Morley could have traveled beyond the immediate prison area. However, investigators have not confirmed his destination or whether the truck has been recovered.
Jacob Allen Morley? Murder of Cody Birchfield Explained
Morley was serving life imprisonment for the 2022 murder of his co-worker Cody Birchfield in Carter County, Tennessee.
Birchfield disappeared in February 2022. Investigators later discovered his body concealed in a box beneath Morley’s home.
Morley was arrested on March 2, 2022, following a police pursuit that ended in North Carolina.
In 2025, he was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest and vandalism.
His escape has renewed public attention on the killing and raised questions about security at the facility holding him.
Tennessee Prison Faced Previous Security and Staffing Problems
The Northwest Correctional Complex, which can house approximately 1,776 male inmates, has previously faced staffing shortages and violence.
According to Associated Press reporting, a 2023 audit found that 61% of correctional officer positions were vacant during the fiscal year examined.
In July 2026, a grand jury returned numerous indictments connected to inmate murders, assaults and other violent incidents at the facility.
Authorities have not established that these earlier problems contributed to Morley’s escape.
Other custody breaches have required extensive police responses, including a Miami Beach prisoner escape that ended in a rapid recapture.
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Jacob Allen Morley Description and $2,500 Reward
Authorities described Morley as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.
The TBI has warned that he should be considered dangerous.
Residents have been encouraged to review doorbell cameras, home security systems, trail cameras and hunting cameras for possible sightings.
In its official public assistance announcement, TDOC urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement immediately.
People should call 911, the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or TDOC at 1-844-832-3463. They should not attempt to confront or detain Morley.
Similar emergency warnings have affected communities during unrelated investigations, including the Florida A&M University homecoming shooting investigation, when authorities issued safety alerts while responding to reports of gunfire.
Has Jacob Allen Morley Been Captured?
As of the latest official information reviewed on October 27, authorities had not announced Morley’s recapture.
His current whereabouts, the status of the stolen pickup truck and the precise circumstances of the prison fence breach remain unconfirmed.
Residents should follow updated instructions from Tennessee law enforcement agencies rather than relying on unverified social media sightings.
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