A nationwide search is underway for Jacob Allen Morley, a convicted killer who recently escaped from a Tennessee prison. His abandoned truck provides potential clues about his movements.
Morley managed to break out of the Northwest Correctional Complex located in Tiptonville, Tennessee. The exact timing of his escape remains undisclosed, but prison staff noticed his absence around 11:30 p.m. Surveillance footage later showed him crossing the prison’s perimeter fence.
Further surveillance captured Morley stealing a pickup truck on Keystone Drive, approximately 2 miles away from the prison, around 1 a.m. on Monday. The truck was later discovered abandoned in Marion, Illinois without any sign of Morley. Multiple agencies are now involved in the search.
Illinois State Police have offered help, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the U.S. Marshals Service is also participating in the search efforts.
Morley was recorded on surveillance escaping the prison on Sunday morning.
Jonathan Gilliam, a retired FBI Special Agent, believes the abandoned truck could indicate Morley’s next move. Gilliam remarked that the truck, found north of the prison, appears to be a work vehicle, hinting Morley might aim to keep a low profile or acquire another vehicle to travel further unnoticed.
If Morley manages to obtain an unremarkable vehicle without being reported missing, Gilliam warns the search area could significantly widen. Morley might travel across the country, potentially hindered by his limited financial resources unless he commits more crimes to gather funds.
Further complicating the manhunt is the possibility of Morley receiving outside assistance, though authorities have no evidence of such aid. His choice to go north suggests he might be distancing himself from familiar resources located in the east.
Morley, who stands 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, is considered dangerous. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation added him to the state’s most wanted list due to the severity of his charges, which include first-degree murder, burglary, and evading arrest.
Jacob Allen Morley’s escape follows a life sentence for the murder of Cody Birchfield in 2022. Birchfield disappeared in February of that year, only to have his body found under Morley’s residence after Morley’s arrest following a police chase.
During his trial, Morley’s former girlfriend, Landree Sheperd, testified about a violent confession Morley allegedly made.
Authorities urge anyone with information on Morley’s current location to call 844-832-3463. Tips can also be sent to Adam Sabes at [email protected].