A man serving life for murder escaped a Tennessee state prison, and officials are warning the public not to approach him while the search goes on.
Story Highlights
- Jacob Morley, 28, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Lake County, according to the Tennessee Department of Correction.
- Morley is serving a life sentence for the 2022 first-degree murder of Cody Birchfield in Carter County.
- He is about 5 feet 11 inches tall and 240 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair.
- Officials say do not approach him. Call 911 or 1-844-TDC-FIND (1-844-832-3463) with any tip.
- Cody Birchfield’s body was found buried and hidden beneath Morley’s home, according to reports from the trial.
State Confirms Escape And Identifies Fugitive
Jacob Morley escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex, a state prison in Tiptonville in the far northwest corner of Tennessee, on Sunday, October 25, the Tennessee Department of Correction said. The department named him in a public notice on Monday morning, October 26, and listed his inmate number as 674793. Officials want the public on alert because Morley was convicted of murder, and they are asking people to report any sighting rather than try to stop him.
“Public safety is our top priority,” department spokesman Bradley Canada said. The department said it is working closely with other law enforcement agencies to catch Morley as fast as possible, and that it will share more as details come in.
Public Description And Safety Guidance
The department’s BOLO, short for “be on the lookout,” a notice that asks the public to watch for a wanted person, describes Morley as 28 years old, about 5 feet 11 inches tall and about 240 pounds. He has green eyes and brown hair.
The warning is plain: do not approach him and do not try to grab him. Anyone who sees him, or knows where he may be, should call 911 or the department’s tip line at 1-844-TDC-FIND (1-844-832-3463). Trained officers will handle the rest.
The Murder That Put Him In Prison
Morley is from Northeast Tennessee, on the other side of the state. He was convicted of the 2022 killing of Cody Birchfield in Carter County. Birchfield had been reported missing, and his body was found in March 2022, buried and hidden beneath Morley’s home, according to reports from the trial.
A jury found Morley guilty of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and theft, and has other convictions, including evading arrest and vandalism. State officials and local reports say he is serving a life sentence.
What Officials Have Released
The Department of Correction has not said how Morley got out, what time he left or when staff found him missing. As of Monday, October 26, the department had not announced an arrest.
Escapes are a small share of crime cases. Federal figures count 253 escape cases among 66,662 federal cases in the 2025 budget year, about four in every thousand. Even so, one escape like this can put a whole region on edge until the man is back in custody.
Why This Matters To Families And Local Communities
Families in rural Tennessee count on prisons to keep violent offenders locked up. When a man convicted of murder gets out, they want fast alerts, strong teamwork among police agencies and a quick capture. The department’s call to report sightings and keep away is meant to protect the public while officers close in.
What Readers Can Do
If you live in or travel through Lake County or the roads around Tiptonville, stay alert and know the description. Do not take risks. If you think you see Morley, call 911 and give the place, which way he was headed and what he was wearing. Any other tip can go to 1-844-TDC-FIND. One call could be the one that puts him back behind bars.
Sources:
tn.gov, wbbjtv.com, wsmv.com, wjhl.com
