Escaped Tennessee Murderer Captured Near Kansas City

Jacob Allen Morley, 28, was captured near Kansas City, Missouri, on November 3, 2026 after escaping Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Staff found him missing around 11:30 p.m. on October 25 and ran an emergency count. Footage showed him breaching the perimeter fence in his TDOC uniform and stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 around 1 a.m. October 26. The truck was found abandoned October 27, neatly parked behind a shopping center in Marion, Illinois, Marion Police Chief David Fitts said. Morley is serving life for a 2025 first-degree murder conviction in the 2022 killing of Cody Birchfield. The TBI said, "Thank you to the public for your assistance, vigilance, and the tips provided during this investigation." CONTESTED: TBI put the combined reward at $15,000 by October 28; a local report cited up to $17,500 before arrest. NBC39 reported Illinois sightings and a potential unconfirmed Wisconsin bank robbery link. Authorities have not said how Morley escaped the fence or how he was found near Kansas City.