A manhunt is underway for Jacob Allen Morley, 28, who escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, late Sunday night, authorities confirmed Monday.
Prison officials discovered Morley was missing at approximately 11:30 p.m. CT during a routine count, prompting an immediate emergency search of the facility. Security footage later confirmed Morley breached a perimeter fence while still wearing his prison uniform, according to the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC).
Morley is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs 240 pounds, and has brown hair and green eyes. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has classified him as dangerous and added his name to the state’s most wanted list.
Federal and state law enforcement agencies are assisting in the search, TDOC stated. The public is urged to contact authorities with any information. Tips can be submitted to the TDOC at 1-844-832-3463 or by calling 911.
-- Background and Conviction Details --
Morley was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, along with additional convictions for aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest, and vandalism, according to TDOC records.
The murder conviction stems from the 2022 death of Cody Birchfield in Carter County, Tennessee. Birchfield disappeared in early February 2022 after being last seen in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Investigators from the Carter County Sheriff’s Office later determined a violent crime had occurred inside his home.
Morley was arrested on March 2, 2022, following a police chase that extended to the North Carolina state line. After his arrest, Birchfield’s body was recovered from underneath Morley’s residence, authorities said.
During Morley’s trial, his former girlfriend, Landree Sheperd, testified as a witness, according to reporting from WJHL. The case has been cited in local and state coverage as a violent crime with significant evidentiary findings.
-- Search Efforts and Public Safety Measures --
TDOC has emphasized its commitment to public safety and is coordinating with local, state, and federal partners to locate Morley. The agency has not disclosed specific details about the escape route or potential locations where Morley may be hiding.
The TBI and TDOC continue to urge the public to report any sightings immediately. Morley is considered armed and dangerous, and officials warn against direct contact.
Law enforcement agencies are reviewing security protocols at the Northwest Correctional Complex following the incident.