The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) reported that Jacob Morley, 28, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Surveillance footage showed Morley, who was serving a life sentence for murder, breaching a perimeter fence while wearing his prison uniform.
Prison staff realized Morley was missing around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday during an emergency headcount. Authorities have not released specific details regarding how Morley managed to slip through the fence. Law enforcement agencies have conducted searches of buildings and structures in the area surrounding the facility, which is located approximately 90 miles north of Memphis.
Morley was convicted of first-degree murder for the 2022 killing of his co-worker, Cody Birchfield, whose body was discovered in a box beneath Morley’s home in Carter County. In addition to the life sentence, Morley was convicted of aggravated burglary, evidence tampering, vandalism, and evading arrest. TDOC officials described Morley as 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.
The escape occurred at a facility that has faced recent reports of violence and staffing challenges. A grand jury in July returned dozens of indictments related to five inmate murders and various assaults at the complex. A 2023 audit of Tennessee prisons noted that the department had a 61% vacancy rate for correctional officers at the Northwest Correctional Complex during that fiscal year.
The search involves local and state law enforcement agencies, and prison officials have offered a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to Morley's arrest. The Northwest Correctional Complex is designed to house up to 1,776 men and minors convicted as adults.
The TDOC has advised the public not to attempt to apprehend Morley and to report any information to their tip line at (844) 832-3463. As of Monday, October 26, 2026, Morley remained at large while law enforcement continued to monitor the region and follow leads. Residents and local officials await further updates from the Tennessee Department of Correction regarding the status of the search.