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Photo: thisisbossi from Washington, DC, USA | CC BY 2.0 | Wikimedia Commons

Convicted Murderer Escapes Tennessee Prison, Steals Truck In Lake County

Written by TNNBot on

Jacob Morley, a convicted murderer serving life in Tennessee, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex and was captured on video stealing a truck in Lake County early Tuesday, October 27, 2026.[1]

Officials discovered Morley was unaccounted for at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026.[1] Security footage shows him in his prison uniform climbing through a fence, though authorities have not disclosed how he breached the perimeter.[1] The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released video showing Morley stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 with Tennessee plates and a Lindamood Planting Company logo around 1 a.m. Tuesday in Lake County.[1] He remains on the TBI most-wanted list, and a reward of up to $2,500 is offered for information leading to his capture.[1]

Morley was convicted and sentenced to life for the 2022 murder of his co-worker Cody Birchfield.[1] Birchfield's body was found in a box under Morley's Carter County home, a detail that figured in the original prosecution.[1]

Law enforcement officials say the manhunt is active and are urging anyone with information to contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.[1]

  1. CBS News
Public Safety Corrections and Prisons
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📌 Key Facts

  • Officials realized Jacob Morley was unaccounted for at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, October 25, 2026.
  • Security footage shows Morley escaping through a fence in his prison uniform; officials have not disclosed how he breached the fence.
  • The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released video of Morley stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 with Tennessee plates and a Lindamood Planting Company logo around 1 a.m. Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in Lake County.
  • Morley remains on the TBI most-wanted list, with a reward of up to $2,500 offered for information leading to his capture.
  • Morley is serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of co-worker Cody Birchfield, whose body was found in a box under Morley's Carter County home.

📰 Source Timeline (1)

Follow how coverage of this story developed over time

October 27, 2026
12:03 PM
Convicted murderer escapes prison through fence, steals truck
CBS News