Manhunt under way in Tennessee after convicted murderer escapes prison

Jacob Morley, 28, serving life for 2022 murder, fled Northwest correctional complex on Sunday evening

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Tennessee officials have launched a manhunt for Jacob Morley, a convicted murderer who escaped from the Northwest correctional complex in Tiptonville on Sunday night, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) announced Monday.

The escape was discovered when staff noticed Morley was unaccounted for at about 11:30pm on Sunday. An emergency headcount and prison surveillance footage showed Morley breaching the perimeter fence and fleeing the prison in his TDOC uniform, according to local news outlet WATE.

TDOC describes Morley as 5ft 11in and 240lbs with green eyes and brown hair. He was serving a sentence of life imprisonment for the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield, a Tennessee man initially reported missing in February 2022. Birchfield's body was discovered buried beneath Morley's home about a month later. Morley was also convicted of aggravated burglary, evidence tampering, evading arrest and vandalism.

“Do not attempt to apprehend this fugitive,” TDOC said in a statement, urging anyone with information on Morley's whereabouts to report it to the department at (844) 832-3463.

Morley's escape comes more than a year after a manhunt was launched following the escape of 10 detainees from a New Orleans jail in what was one of the largest such breakouts in recent memory. All 10 escapees have since been recaptured.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

Residents in the Tiptonville area and surrounding communities may face heightened safety concerns while Morley remains at large.
The escape highlights potential security vulnerabilities at the correctional facility, prompting questions about oversight and procedures.
Law enforcement resources are being mobilised for the manhunt, which may affect other operations in the region.

Background

Jacob Morley was convicted of the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield, whose body was found buried beneath Morley's home. He was serving a life sentence at the Northwest correctional complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. The facility houses medium- and maximum-security inmates. Sunday night's escape is the latest in a series of high-profile prison breakouts in the US, including last year's escape of 10 detainees from a New Orleans jail.

What to Watch

Any reported sightings of Morley in the Tiptonville area or surrounding counties.
Official updates from TDOC or local law enforcement on the progress of the manhunt.
Whether any changes in prison security procedures are announced following the incident.

Sources

Manhunt under way in Tennessee after convicted murderer escapes prison · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedA manhunt is under way in Tennessee after convicted murderer Jacob Morley escaped prison.World news | The Guardian: “Tennessee officials have mounted a manhunt after a convicted murderer’s escape from a state prison on Sunday evening.”
SupportedJacob Morley is 28.World news | The Guardian: “the Tennessee department or correction (TDOC) on Monday announced that Jacob Morley, 28, escaped”
SupportedMorley escaped from the Northwest correctional complex in Tiptonville on Sunday evening.World news | The Guardian: “Jacob Morley, 28, escaped from the Northwest correctional complex in the community of Tiptonville.”
SupportedTDOC announced Morley’s escape on Monday.World news | The Guardian: “the Tennessee department or correction (TDOC) on Monday announced that Jacob Morley, 28, escaped”
SupportedStaff noticed Morley was unaccounted for at about 11:30pm on Sunday.World news | The Guardian: “Local outlets reported that staff noticed Morley was unaccounted for at about 11.30pm on Sunday.”
SupportedAfter an emergency headcount, prison surveillance footage showed Morley breaching the perimeter fence and escaping in his TDOC uniform.World news | The Guardian: “After staff conducted an emergency headcount, prison surveillance footage showed Morley breached the perimeter fence and escaped the prison in his TDOC uniform, the local news outlet WATE reported.”
SupportedTDOC described Morley as 5ft 11in and 240lbs, with green eyes and brown hair.World news | The Guardian: “TDOC describes Morley as being 5ft 11in and 240lbs with green eyes and brown hair.”
SupportedMorley was serving life imprisonment for the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield.World news | The Guardian: “Morley was serving a sentence of life imprisonment for the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield”
SupportedBirchfield was initially reported missing in February 2022.World news | The Guardian: “a Tennessee man who was initially reported missing in February 2022.”
SupportedBirchfield’s body was discovered buried beneath Morley’s home about a month later.World news | The Guardian: “Birchfield’s body was discovered buried beneath Morley’s home about a month later.”
SupportedTDOC said, “Do not attempt to apprehend this fugitive,” and urged people with information to report it to the department at (844) 832-3463.World news | The Guardian: ““Do not attempt to apprehend this fugitive,” TDOC said in a statement, adding that any information on Morley’s whereabouts should be reported to TDOC at (844) 832-3463.”
SupportedMorley’s escape comes more than a year after a New Orleans jail breakout involving 10 detainees, described as one of the largest such breakouts in recent memory; all 10 have since been recaptured.World news | The Guardian: “Morley’s escape comes more than a year after manhunt was launched after the escape of 10 detainees from a New Orleans jail in what was one of the largest such breakouts in recent memory. All 10 escapees ... have since been recaptured.”