Authorities Launch Manhunt for Escaped Killer in Tennessee

Authorities in Tennessee are searching for a convicted murderer who escaped from a state prison on Sunday night. Jacob Allen Morley, 28, broke out of the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, a small town near the Mississippi River. Security cameras showed him climbing through the fence in his prison uniform. Shortly after, he allegedly stole a work truck and disappeared into the night.

Prison officials said Morley was reported missing at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. By 1 a.m. Monday, he had allegedly stolen a white Ford F-350 flatbed truck in Tiptonville. The town sits about 100 miles north of Memphis and near the Missouri border. Surveillance video showed a man in a beanie getting into the truck and driving it away.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation quickly added Morley to its most-wanted list. Agents asked residents to check their doorbell cameras, trail cameras, and home security systems for any sightings. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information that leads to his arrest. Anyone who sees him should call 911 or 1-800-TBI-FIND immediately.

Morley stands 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds. He is considered dangerous, and the public is warned not to approach him. He was still wearing his prison uniform when he fled the facility. Law enforcement from multiple agencies joined the search across the region.

Morley was convicted of murder in February 2025 and sentenced to life in prison. He fatally shot his coworker, 34-year-old Cody Birchfield, in 2022. Court records say Birchfield's body was found hidden in a large metal box under Morley's home. Morley was also convicted of hiding the body, stealing tools from the victim, and tampering with evidence.

At his trial, Morley claimed he acted in self-defense and said he had mental health problems, including bipolar disorder. People who knew him described him as a "loner." The jury did not believe his defense, and he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars. His escape has shocked both the local community and state officials.