Murder Convict Fugitive in Tennessee After Stealing Heavy-Duty Truck

Jacob Allen Morley, 28, is on the run after escaping the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. The fugitive is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder and is now considered dangerous by state authorities. He fled the facility in a white 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck that he stole from a local business.

Prison staff noticed Morley was missing at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. They immediately began an emergency count and searched the entire facility. Security footage confirmed that Morley cut through the prison fence while still wearing his standard issue prison clothing. He was not found inside the facility.

About 90 minutes later, at roughly 1:00 a.m. on Monday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation recorded Morley taking a vehicle on the 400 block of Keystone Drive. This location is situated two miles south of the prison. The truck is a white heavy-duty Ford F-350 with Tennessee license plate 138BBQV. It bears the name Lindamood Planting Company on the side and contains an air compressor in the cargo bed.

Morley was convicted in 2025 for the murder of Cody Birchfield, who disappeared in early February 2022. Birchfield was last seen in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Investigators from the Carter County Sheriff's Office found signs of a violent crime at his home. Morley was arrested on March 2, 2022, after a police chase that extended to the North Carolina border. Birchfield's body was later discovered beneath Morley's house.

During the trial, Morley's former girlfriend, Landree Sheperd, testified that Morley admitted to killing Birchfield. She stated that he told her he f, ing killed him. In addition to the murder charge, the jury found Morley guilty of burglary, vandalism, tampering with evidence, and evading arrest.

State and federal law enforcement agencies are now working together to locate Morley. He is listed on the state's most wanted list. Officials describe him as 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. The public is asked to call 844-832-3463 with any information regarding his whereabouts.

The search continues across the region. Authorities have not confirmed if Morley has traveled by air or train. The stolen truck remains a key identifier for the fugitive. No arrests have been made in connection with the escape as of Monday morning.