The multi-state manhunt for a convicted murderer who escaped from a Tennessee correctional facility expanded significantly after law enforcement discovered his stolen getaway vehicle abandoned in southern Illinois.
Jacob Morley, 28, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, late Sunday. Correctional staff realized he was missing at approximately 11:30 p.m., according to the Tennessee Department of Correction. Security camera footage later confirmed that Morley breached the prison’s perimeter fence while still wearing his prison uniform.
Following his escape, Morley traveled to Lake County where he stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck bearing Tennessee license plates. Early Tuesday, that vehicle was found abandoned in Marion, Illinois, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Law enforcement agencies across surrounding states have been notified to remain vigilant, and state and federal partners are assisting in the ongoing search.
The Illinois State Police acknowledged awareness of the situation and confirmed they have offered assistance to Tennessee investigators. In Marion, a community of approximately 17,600 residents, the discovery of the abandoned vehicle sparked localized anxiety. Local attorney Bridget Lawler noted that residents were taking extra precautions, such as locking their vehicle doors, while other residents expressed frustration over receiving information through social media rather than formal public safety alerts.
Morley is currently featured on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list, with a reward of up to $2,500 offered for information leading directly to his arrest. TBI officials emphasized that his whereabouts remain unknown and locating him is an urgent priority.
Prior to his escape, Morley was serving a life sentence following convictions for first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest, and vandalism. His conviction stemmed from the killing of Cody Birchfield, whose disappearance was initially reported in February 2022. Birchfield’s body was discovered weeks later hidden inside a box beneath Morley’s residence.
A cousin of Birchfield, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, expressed deep anguish over the development, stating that learning of the escape reopened the family’s deepest wounds after the life sentence had provided a brief sense of justice and closure. The family urged the public to focus on safety, keep attention on the ongoing search, and remember Birchfield for the warmth and decency of his life rather than the tragedy of his death.
Morley’s escape marks the second such incident involving an inmate from the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction within October. The commissioner of the department recently resigned following a separate, high-profile incident involving the botched execution and subsequent hospitalization of inmate Christa Pike.
