By Sohaib Shams
Escaped Tennessee inmate Jacob Morley was apprehended Tuesday in Missouri after his truck became mired in mud, ending a 10-day manhunt that spanned multiple states.
Escape from Tennessee Prison
Morley, 28, broke out of the Northwest Correctional Complex near Tiptonville on Oct. 25 by slipping through a boundary fence while still wearing prison clothing. Surveillance footage showed him stealing a farm truck nearby, which was later found abandoned in Marion, Illinois, about 120 miles north of the prison.
Manhunt and Capture
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers located Morley on Interstate 70 near Kansas City using automated license plate readers and undercover officers. A Kansas City police helicopter tracked the metal flatbed work truck into Carroll County, where Morley drove off the road and became stuck in mud. A state trooper took him into custody without incident; authorities described him as compliant.
Criminal History
Morley was serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of his co-worker, Cody Birchfield. Birchfield's body was discovered concealed in a box beneath Morley's residence in Carter County, Tennessee. Morley had previously fled from deputies, leading to a vehicle pursuit that ended in North Carolina. He was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, evidence tampering, vandalism, and evading arrest.
Prison System Concerns
The escape highlights ongoing issues at the Northwest Correctional Complex, which has experienced numerous violent incidents involving inmates and staff. A grand jury issued dozens of indictments in July related to five inmate deaths, and the state's Department of Correction commissioner, Frank Strada, resigned in September after a botched execution attempt.
