Jacob Morley, Tennessee inmate convicted of murder, recaptured in Missouri

Jacob Morley, a man serving a life sentence for murder, was arrested in Missouri on Tuesday. He had been missing from a Tennessee prison for eight days. State highway patrol officers took him into custody outside Kansas City before midday. This ends a multi-state search that began late last month.

Morley, 28, was last seen at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tipton, Tennessee, on Oct. 25. He escaped by climbing over a fence while wearing his prison clothes. Surveillance footage from a nearby farm showed him stealing a truck shortly after the escape. He left that vehicle in Marion, Illinois, about 120 miles north of the prison, during the previous week.

Authorities used automated license plate readers to locate the stolen vehicle as it moved through Missouri. The system flagged the truck while it was traveling through the state. Law enforcement officials did not release specific details about the final moment of the capture. They confirmed that the plate readers were the primary tool used to track his route.

Morley was convicted in 2022 for the first-degree murder of his co-worker, Cody Birchfield. Birchfield’s body was discovered in a box under Morley’s home in Carter County after a weeks-long disappearance. Morley also faced charges for aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism, and evading arrest. During the initial investigation, deputies saw him at his home and pursued him in a chase that ended in North Carolina.

The escape adds to recent challenges for Tennessee’s Department of Correction. The Northwest Correctional Complex is located in Tiptonville, roughly 90 miles north of Memphis. Prison officials offered a reward of up to $17,500 for information leading to Morley’s return. The facility has faced scrutiny following several violent incidents between inmates and staff in recent years.

In July, a grand jury returned dozens of indictments related to five inmate killings and other violent acts at the same facility. The department also saw leadership changes in September. Commissioner Frank Strada resigned after less than three years in the role. His departure followed the failed execution of Christa Pike.

Morley’s recapture occurred after he spent more than a week on the run. He moved from Tennessee to Illinois and then to Missouri during that period. The state highway patrol in Missouri handled the final arrest. No further details were provided regarding his condition or immediate transfer plans.