What We Know
Jacob Morley Prison Escape: What We Know
Video · 3:22 · Watch on YouTube
Jacob Allen Morley, 28, is serving life for the first-degree murder of his coworker Cody Birchfield. He escaped the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, late on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, and as of Nov. 2 he has not been found. Officials' own timeline shows about five hours between staff noticing him missing and the first call to outside police, the same time the truck officials say he stole was being left in Marion, Illinois.
What's confirmed
- Feb. 7, 2025A Carter County jury convicted Morley of first-degree murder in the 2022 death of Cody Birchfield of Elizabethton, plus abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and theft. (Elizabethton Star; SuperTalk 92.9)
- The defense argued the killing was not premeditated; the jury convicted him of first-degree murder. (SuperTalk 92.9)
- June 2025Morley was sentenced to life in prison. (WCYB; WJHL)
- Sun., Oct. 25, 2026, around 11:30 p.m.Staff at the Northwest Correctional Complex found Morley unaccounted for. TDOC says security video shows him breaching the perimeter fence in his prison uniform. (TDOC; NBC News; ABC News)
- Mon., Oct. 26, around 1 a.m.Officials say he stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 work truck. (TBI via WBBJ; Fox News)
- Mon., Oct. 26, 4:40 a.m.Tiptonville police say they got their first call about the escape. (Fox News; NewsChannel 5)
- Mon., Oct. 26, about 4:40 a.m.Police in Marion, Illinois, say the truck was left in their town. It was found Tuesday. (Marion Police via CNN, ABC7 Chicago)
- Mon., Oct. 26, 1:40 p.m.TDOC issued its public alert asking for help locating him. (TDOC release)
- District Attorney General Danny Goodman Jr.: "He was already in Marion, Illinois, before they ever called anyone outside of TDOC." (WBBJ, Oct. 30; CNN)
- Morley is on the TBI's Most Wanted list. The reward is up to $17,500. (TDOC; WSMV; NBC News)
- His sister told ABC News Cody Birchfield "was a kind man that would help anyone." (ABC News)
What we don't know
- Where Morley is. The TBI says his location is unknown; there have been no confirmed sightings since Marion.
- Why outside police were not called for about five hours. TDOC says the escape is under investigation; no findings have been made public.
- Whether he will face new charges. None have been announced; prosecutors decide after an arrest.
What happens next
We'll update this video when Morley is found or officials release findings on the escape.
If you see him, don't approach. Call 911 or 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463).
Sources
- Tennessee Department of Correction release (Oct. 26, 2026) Primary recordtn.gov/correction/news/2026/10/26/tdoc-seeking-information-locating-escaped-inmate-jacob-allen-morley.html
- NBC News Reportingnbcnews.com/news/us-news/manhunt-grows-escaped-murderer-may-left-area-truck-was-ditched-rcna606248
- WBBJ (DA timeline, Oct. 30) Reportingwbbjtv.com/2026/10/30/da-details-escape-timeline-lake-county-inmate-multistate-manhunt-continues/
- NewsChannel 5 Investigates Reportingnewschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/new-reporting-shows-tdoc-failed-to-notify-the-public-and-law-enforcement-for-hours-after-inmate-prison-escape
- Fox News (Oct. 28) Reportingfoxnews.com/us/convicted-murderer-5-hour-head-start-prison-escape-local-police-notified-official
- ABC7 Chicago (Oct. 29) Reportingabc7chicago.com/post/jacob-morley-update-truck-stolen-tennessee-prison-escapee-sat-illinois-more-day-before-was-found-police-say/19996174/
- CNN (Oct. 28) Reportingcnn.com/2026/10/28/us/tennessee-prison-escape
- WSMV (Oct. 30) Reportingwsmv.com/2026/10/30/what-we-know-escaped-tennessee-murderer-jacob-morley-continues-evade-capture/
- ABC News Reportingabcnews.com/US/manhunt-escaped-murderer-continues-friends-family-victim-speak/story?id=137635736
- Elizabethton Star (Feb. 11, 2025) Reportingelizabethton.com/2025/02/11/jacob-morley-found-guilty-of-murder/
- SuperTalk 92.9 (Feb. 10, 2025) Reportingsupertalk929.com/2025/02/10/carter-county-man-found-guilty-of-murder/
- WJHL Reportingwjhl.com/news/crime/morley-found-guilty-of-missing-elizabethon-mans-murder/
- WCYB Reportingwcyb.com/news/local/man-found-guilty-of-2022-murder-in-carter-county-sentenced-life-in-prison
The record · as of Nov. 3, 2026
How we know
Primary records are court and agency documents; reporting is news coverage we checked against them. How we report.
What happens next
Verified timeline
- 2022-03-02Morley was arrested after a police chase from Carter County into Avery County, N.C.; police say Birchfield's remains were found hidden beneath Morley's Elizabethton home.WCYB Mar 3 2022; Elizabethton Star Feb 11 2025; Fox News Oct 28 2026
- 2025-02-03On the first day of trial (Monday), Morley pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and theft.SuperTalk 92.9 Feb 10 2025; Elizabethton Star Feb 11 2025
- 2025-02-07A Carter County jury convicted Morley of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence (Judge Stacy Street). The defense argued the killing was not premeditated. Some outlets give 'Feb. 3' (the plea day) as the conviction date.SuperTalk 92.9 Feb 10 2025 ('Friday'); Elizabethton Star Feb 11 2025
- 2025-06-27Morley was sentenced to life in prison. (TDOC lists his convictions as first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest and vandalism.) WSMV says 'life with possibility of parole'; not on screen.WCYB June 27 2025; TDOC release Oct 26 2026 (life sentence); Elizabethton Star (sentencing set June 27)
- 2026-10-25Around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, NWCX staff in Tiptonville confirmed Morley was unaccounted for; TDOC says security cameras show he breached the perimeter fence in his TDOC uniform.TDOC release Oct 26 9:01am (primary); Fox News; NewsChannel 5; NBC News
- 2026-10-26Around 1 a.m. Monday, officials say Morley stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 work truck near the prison (not a charged or proven offense). County differs: TBI/Fox say Lake County (Keystone Dr.), WSMV says Obion County.Fox News Oct 28 (TBI); WBBJ Oct 30 (DA); ABC7 Chicago
- 2026-10-26Tiptonville Police Chief Joe England says his department got its first report of a possibly missing inmate at 4:40 a.m.; officers confirmed the escape at 5:14 a.m.; prison officials formally notified Lake County dispatch at 6:20 a.m. The DA says outside agencies were formally notified 5:30-6:15 a.m.Fox News Oct 28; NewsChannel 5 Investigates
- 2026-10-26Around 4:40 a.m. Monday, Marion, Ill. police say surveillance video shows the truck being left in their town, about 100 miles north of Tiptonville.ABC7 Chicago Oct 29 (Marion PD); NBC News; CNN (via search)
- 2026-10-26TDOC's first public notice: a post on X at 6:39 a.m. (NC5), then a news release at 9:01 a.m. ('TDOC & Law Enforcement Work to Apprehend...'), then a 1:40 p.m. release asking the public for help (TBI Most Wanted, reward).TDOC releases Oct 26 9:01am + 1:40pm (primary, timestamps on tn.gov); NewsChannel 5 (6:39am X post)
- 2026-10-26Morley added to the TBI Most Wanted list (TBI's post ~noon Monday per NC5; TDOC's 1:40 p.m. release confirms the listing).TDOC release 1:40pm (primary); NewsChannel 5; NBC News
- 2026-10-27The truck was found Tuesday around 10 a.m. in Marion, Ill., after sitting there more than a day; Morley was not with it.Fox News Oct 28; ABC7 Chicago Oct 29; NBC News
- 2026-10-27A Deerfield, Wis. bank was robbed Tuesday; Dane County deputies said Morley had not been eliminated, but the TBI says it has no confirmation he is the suspect. Not linked; keep out.ABC7 Chicago Oct 29; NewsChannel 5; WSMV (via search)
- 2026-10-28Reward raised from $2,500 to $15,000 (Governor's Office $7,500, TBI $2,500, U.S. Marshals $5,000), later to up to $17,500 (TDOC banner, NBC).WSMV Oct 28; ABC7 Chicago; NBC News; TDOC banner (primary)
- 2026-10-30DA General Danny Goodman Jr.: 'He was already in Marion, Illinois, before they ever called anyone outside of TDOC.'WBBJ Oct 30 2026; CNN (via search/headline)
- 2026-11-02Morley is still at large: TDOC's live site banner (checked Nov 2) is still searching for him, TBI Most Wanted, reward up to $17,500; no confirmed sightings since Marion.TDOC tn.gov banner Nov 2 (primary); Newsweek Nov 2; WSMV Oct 30
Also in our research file
- TDOC release #1 (Oct 26): TDOC & Law Enforcement Work to Apprehend Escaped Inmate -- 11:30pm unaccounted, fence breach, conviction list Primary recordtn.gov
- TDOC WANTED flyer, full-res original 2500x1932 (TBI-FIND) Primary recordtn.gov
- TDOC first WANTED flyer (TDC-FIND tip line), superseded Primary recordtn.gov
- Cody Wayne Birchfield obituary, Tetrick Funeral Home (family; portrait + life details) Primary recordtetrickfuneralhome.com
- TBI on X: Oct 26 truck-theft surveillance video + truck photo (video lead, platform: do not download) Primary recordx.com
- WSMV Oct 28: reward to $15,000 (Gov $7,500, TBI $2,500, USMS $5,000); truck stolen in Obion Co.; says 'possibility of parole' Reportingwsmv.com · Oct. 28, 2026
- Fox News Oct 26: escape, 11:30pm, fence, truck Reportingfoxnews.com · Oct. 26, 2026
- Elizabethton Star obituary, Mar 18 2022 Reportingelizabethton.com
- WSMV Oct 27: victim's family reportedly not notified of escape (learned on Facebook) Reportingwsmv.com
- WCYB: suspect captured after chase (photo captioned Avery County, NC Jail) Reportingwcyb.com
- Newsweek timeline (Nov 2): still at large; 1:18am truck seen Hornbeak/Troy. Has errors (escape '2025', sentence 'June 2024') -- do not cite for dates Secondarynewsweek.com · Nov. 2, 2026
Updates and corrections
Photos: TDOC; Nyttend (PD); Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0); Aaron Lucas (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map: Census TIGER.
Morley was convicted by a jury; the truck theft is what officials say and is not a charged or proven offense.
Spot an error? Email corrections@undercurrentdaily.com. See our corrections policy. Have information about this case? Contact the investigating agency first.
