Murderer sentenced to life sentence escapes through Tennessee prison fence, uses stolen truck as getaway vehicle, officials say
A 28-year-old life-sentenced murderer escaped through a Tennessee prison fence Sunday night before stealing a truck and fleeing — and has not yet been located, according to Tennessee authorities.
Around 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 25, staff at the Northwest Correctional Complex learned that Jacob Morley was missing, according to the Tennessee Department of Corrections. He was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest and vandalism.
Security camera footage later revealed that Morley “crossed the perimeter fence” and left the facility wearing his prison uniform, the department said. It is still unclear how he managed to escape through the fence.
Video obtained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows Morley stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 with Tennessee license plates around 1 a.m. Oct. 26, the agency said.
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Video shows escaped inmate stealing truck in Lake County, Tennessee early Monday morning
The Hornbeak Fire Department, located about 15 miles from the North West Correctional Complex, said it captured video of Morley driving past the fire department building in the stolen truck around 1:18 a.m.
Morley is the second inmate to escape from the custody of the Tennessee Department of Corrections in the past week.
Morley was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Cody Birchfield, who was initially reported missing in February 2022, according to the Carter County Sheriff’s Office.
Birchfield’s body was found in a box under Morley’s house a few weeks after she disappeared, the Associated Press reported. Morley also led police on a chase that ended in North Carolina after deputies found him at his home in 2022, according to authorities.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which has added Morley to its “most wanted” list, is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest.
The Northwest Correctional Complex can house up to 1,776 male inmates, according to the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
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