By Basant El-Faramawy
Authorities are expanding their search for Jacob Morley, a convicted murderer who escaped from a Tennessee prison on Sunday and may have left the Illinois area where a stolen work truck was abandoned. Morley, 28, was serving a life sentence at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville when he breached the perimeter fence and fled in his prison uniform sometime before 11:30 p.m.
Escape and Stolen Truck Found
Morley allegedly stole a work truck after his escape. The vehicle was discovered early Tuesday behind a business in Marion, Illinois, a town of about 16,000 residents roughly 100 miles north of Tiptonville. Surveillance footage captured Morley driving away in a flatbed truck, but there have been no reports of other stolen vehicles in Marion and no confirmed sightings of the escapee.
No Known Connection to Illinois
Marion Police Chief David Fitts said Wednesday that Morley has no known ties to the town or southern Illinois. Investigators believe he may have used Interstate 57, which runs through Marion, simply because he was low on fuel. "What we have seen kind of leads us in the direction that he's not still here," Fitts said, adding that the search continues despite that assessment.
Conviction Details and Victim's Family
Morley was convicted in February 2025 of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, aggravated burglary, and theft of property. Court documents say he shot former co-worker Cody Birchfield in the back of the head in 2022 and hid the body in a large metal box under his residence. Birchfield's sister, Carrie Norman, described the situation as feeling "like a scary movie" and said the family is reliving the trauma of not knowing Morley's whereabouts.
Reward Increased, Public Urged Not to Approach
The reward for information leading to Morley's arrest has risen from $2,500 to $15,000, funded by the Tennessee governor's office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Chief Fitts urged the public not to approach Morley, emphasizing that he is dangerous and that anyone who spots him should call 911 immediately. The Tennessee Department of Correction said the exact method of escape remains under investigation.
