Jacob Morley Found in Missouri After Ten-Day Escape
The Tennessee inmate was tracked by camera and helicopter before his truck became stuck in mud.
By Amina Howard ·
Jacob Morley was arrested near Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday after evading capture for ten days. The 28-year-old man, who is serving a life sentence for murder, was last seen in Tennessee before being located hundreds of miles away in the Midwest.
Morley fled the Northwest Correctional Complex in the far northwestern corner of Tennessee on October 25. He slipped through a fence while wearing his prison clothes. Surveillance footage recorded him stealing a truck from a farm near the prison. He later abandoned that vehicle in Marion, Illinois, roughly 127 miles from the prison.
Investigators believe Morley walked approximately three miles from the abandoned truck to a farm property. The area contains fields and woods, making it difficult for him to be spotted. Inside a shed used by hunters, he left behind an apologetic handwritten note. He also prepared garlic bread and drank beer while staying at the property.
Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich said authorities recovered two rifles and a shotgun from the truck Morley stole. The sheriff stated there is no evidence that Morley received help from anyone during his time on the run. It remains unclear why Morley traveled to Marion or why he was driving near Kansas City, which is more than 350 miles from the Illinois farm.
Troopers used roadside cameras and a helicopter to track Morley's movements. His truck eventually got stuck in the mud, allowing officers to locate him. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that Morley was compliant during his arrest on Tuesday morning.
Morley has been transported to the Lafayette County Jail in Lexington, Missouri. No charges have been filed against him in Missouri courts. District Attorney General Danny Goodman Jr. in Tennessee said Morley could face charges in Missouri, Illinois, and federal court. Plans to file additional charges are underway, but the timing of his return to Tennessee is not yet known.
Morley was convicted in 2022 for the killing of his co-worker, Cody Birchfield. Birchfield’s body was discovered in a box under Morley’s home after weeks of being missing. Morley was found guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism, and evading arrest after a chase that ended in North Carolina.
Kim Wheeler-Elder, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, confirmed that all available information regarding Morley’s whereabouts has been released. The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the local handling of the case.
