Jacob Allen Morley is a convicted murderer who escaped from a Tennessee prison on October 25, sparking a search that has extended into Illinois.
Morley, 28, was serving time for the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield. He remains on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list, with a $7,500 reward offered for information leading to his arrest.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Jacob Allen Morley Escaped From a Tennessee Prison Before a Truck Was Stolen
Morley escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Lake County, Tennessee, late Sunday night.
Authorities have not provided details on how he left the correctional facility.
Newly obtained surveillance video shows Morley stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck around 1 a.m. Monday, according to investigators.
The truck, which displayed Tennessee license plate 138-BBQV, was stolen from the 400 block of Keystone Drive in Obion County.
On Tuesday, October 27, authorities confirmed they had located the vehicle abandoned in Marion, Illinois.
The discovery placed Morley’s last reported movements outside Tennessee, although investigators had not established his current location.
Illinois State Police told Action News 5 they were aware of the escape and had offered assistance to Tennessee investigators.
2. Jacob Allen Morley Was Convicted of Killing Cody Birchfield in 2022
Morley was serving a prison sentence following his conviction in the murder of Cody Birchfield.
Investigators discovered Birchfield’s body in March 2022 inside a metal box beneath Morley’s home.
Court records show that Morley was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse.
Birchfield’s friends have spoken publicly about the impact of his murder and their concerns following Morley’s escape.
Daniel Russell, who knew Birchfield since elementary school, described their relationship as closer than a typical friendship.
“He’s way more than friend. He’s my brother,” Russell told Action News 5. “Me and him were close enough that his son’s middle name is Daniel.”
Russell said Birchfield’s family welcomed him into their lives when they were children.
He also remembered Birchfield as a devoted father and someone who regularly helped others.
“He was full of life. He would take his shirt off his back, even if it was his last shirt, and give it to you. He had a heart of gold,” Russell said.
3. The Victim’s Friends Fear for Their Safety After the Prison Escape
Russell said Morley’s incarceration had helped him begin coping with the loss of his childhood friend.
However, learning that Morley had escaped brought those feelings back.
“I was never going to have to see his face again, and then wake up yesterday morning, and it’s everywhere for all of us to see again and knowing he’s out on the street and he may do it to somebody else’s family,” Russell said.
Russell also expressed concern that someone could be harmed while Morley remains at large.
“If he will kill somebody the way he killed Cody, he’s a monster. He will do it again when the first opportunity comes,” Russell said.
Another friend, Diana Reid, questioned what the escape meant for Birchfield’s loved ones.
“We felt like justice, to a certain degree, was in place with him being incarcerated. It doesn’t bring Cody back, but at least justice was served in that aspect,” Reid said.
“But now he’s out. So where’s Cody’s justice? Where’s the peace that his family had just knowing that he wasn’t roaming the streets?”
4. Jacob Allen Morley Is the Subject of a $7,500 Reward
Authorities are offering a combined reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to Morley’s arrest.
The TBI initially announced a reward of up to $2,500.
The U.S. Marshals Service for the Western District of Tennessee subsequently confirmed that officials had added another $5,000.
Morley remains listed among the TBI’s Most Wanted fugitives as investigators continue trying to locate him.
Authorities in Tennessee and Illinois have been involved in the search since the recovery of the stolen truck.
Investigators have urged anyone with information about Morley’s location to contact law enforcement rather than attempt to confront him.
5. Police Are Warning Residents to Secure Their Homes and Vehicles
After discovering the stolen pickup truck in Marion, law enforcement officials issued safety recommendations to residents in the area and surrounding counties.
Authorities advised residents to lock their homes and vehicles and avoid leaving keys inside cars or equipment.
Police also recommended securing barns, sheds and other outbuildings that someone could potentially enter.
Residents were encouraged to bring tools, clothing and other supplies inside rather than leave them outdoors.
The TBI has described locating Morley as an urgent priority.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts can contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463).
Jacob Allen Morley, Tennessee Escapee: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know