Manhunt launched after murderer who buried victim’s body beneath his home escapes from Tennessee prison
Jacob Allen Morley, 28, escaped from a Tennessee prison while serving a life sentence for murder, prompting a manhunt involving local, state and federal agencies. Authorities say he breached a perimeter fence and later stole a pickup truck, raising concern that he may have travelled beyond the prison area.
Morley was reported missing from Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville at about 11.30pm on Sunday. Investigators say surveillance footage showed him in his prison uniform and later linked him to a white 2008 Ford F-350 bearing the name Lindamood Planting Company. His victim, Cody Birchfield, was found buried beneath Morley’s home in March 2022; Morley was convicted in February 2025 and sentenced to life that June. Authorities are offering $2,500 for information leading to his capture and urge the public not to approach him.
In short
- Jacob Morley escaped from a Tennessee prison on Sunday night.
- Investigators say he stole a distinctive white Ford pickup.
- Authorities offer $2,500 for information leading to his capture.
Explained simply
Northwest Correctional Complex is a state prison in Tiptonville, in north-west Tennessee. Jacob Allen Morley was serving a life sentence after his conviction for murdering Cody Birchfield, whose body was found buried beneath Morley’s home in 2022.
The case matters because Morley’s sentence was intended to keep him in prison for life, and his escape has led several law enforcement agencies to search for him. Authorities have warned the public not to approach him and have offered a reward for information leading to his capture.
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