Tennessee Murderer Caught After 10-Day Escape

Jacob Morley spent ten days on the run from a Tennessee prison, hiding in a hunter's shed and driving stolen trucks across state lines before police caught him near Kansas City.

The 28-year-old man, who is serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of a co-worker, was apprehended by Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers on Tuesday. His escape began on Oct. 25 at the Northwest Correctional Complex in far northwestern Tennessee, where he slipped through a fence while still wearing his prison clothes.

Morley's route from Tennessee to Missouri remains largely a mystery to investigators. He stole a truck from a farm near his prison and drove to Marion, Illinois, a distance of about 127 miles. There, he abandoned the vehicle and walked approximately three miles to a nearby farm. Security cameras captured him walking along Route 13, but the surrounding fields and woods likely prevented him from being spotted during that stretch.

At the Marion farm, Morley hid in a shed used periodically by hunters. Sheriff Jeff Diederich of Williamson County, Illinois, said investigators found evidence that Morley drank beer and prepared garlic bread and other meals while there. He also left a handwritten note apologizing for taking the truck, which he stole along with two rifles and a shotgun. Diederich noted that there is no evidence Morley received help from anyone during his stay.

After leaving the farm, Morley was seen driving near Kansas City, more than 350 miles from his hiding spot. On Tuesday morning, the Missouri State Highway Patrol received information that he might be traveling west on Interstate 70. Troopers used roadside cameras and a helicopter to track his vehicle. His escape ended when his truck got stuck in the mud, allowing officers to take him into custody. He was compliant during the arrest.

Morley was transported to the Lafayette County Jail in Lexington, Missouri. A deputy U.S. marshal interviewed him there on Tuesday. In a probable cause affidavit, Morley admitted to escaping the Tennessee prison, stealing the truck, and taking the three firearms. He was charged in federal court in Missouri with being a felon in possession of a firearm. No charges have been filed in Missouri state courts.

Before his capture, Morley was already charged in federal court in Tennessee with one count of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Tennessee District Attorney General Danny Goodman Jr. said he plans to file additional charges, though it is unclear when Morley will be returned to the state.

Morley was originally convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism, and evading arrest. He killed co-worker Cody Birchfield in 2022. Birchfield's body was found in a box under Morley's home after the victim had been missing for several weeks. When deputies first visited Morley's home, he led them on a chase that ended in North Carolina.

Kim Wheeler-Elder, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, stated that all available information regarding Morley's whereabouts has been released. The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the local custody of the inmate.