The convicted killer who escaped from a Tennessee prison went on a crime spree across several states before being captured near Kansas City, Missouri. Jacob Morley, 28, evaded authorities for over a week, leading them on a chase that spanned hundreds of miles.
Morley, serving a life sentence for murder at the Northwest Correctional Complex, managed to slip through a fence and flee on October 25. The Tennessee Department of Correction detailed his escape and subsequent actions on Wednesday.
After his escape, Morley was found using roadside cameras and a helicopter after his stolen truck got stuck in the mud. Authorities recovered two rifles and a shotgun from the vehicle.
During his time on the run, Morley reached a farm near Marion, Illinois, about 127 miles from the prison. There, he hid in a shed, consumed food and beer, and left an apologetic note for the property’s owner. Law enforcement believes he stole clothes and firearms from the farm as well.
Sheriff Jeff Diederich explained that Morley abandoned a different truck before reaching the farm, then walked roughly three miles to the location. Security cameras later captured his movements along Route 13, but the area’s terrain made it difficult to track him.
How he ended up in Marion is kind of a mystery,Diederich stated, highlighting the puzzling aspects of Morley’s journey.
Surveillance footage had previously shown Morley taking another truck from a local farm shortly after fleeing the prison. Kim Wheeler-Elder, from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, confirmed that all known information about Morley’s escape had been made public.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported being notified on Tuesday that Morley was possibly traveling west on Interstate 70. He was detained without incident and taken to the Lafayette County jail in Lexington, Missouri.
Before his capture, Morley faced federal charges in Tennessee for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He was also charged in Missouri for being a felon in possession of firearms. A deputy U.S. marshal’s affidavit detailed Morley’s admissions about escaping and the subsequent thefts.
District Attorney General Danny Goodman Jr. expressed plans to file additional charges against Morley, pending his return to Tennessee.
Morley had originally been convicted for the murder of Cody Birchfield, whose body was found concealed under Morley’s home in 2022. The discovery led to a chase that ended in North Carolina, resulting in Morley’s conviction for multiple offenses, including first-degree murder.