Escaped inmate's stolen truck found in Illinois as family of murder victim urges public to look out
Jacob Morley, serving life for killing Cody Birchfield, fled Tennessee's Northwest Correctional Complex on Friday night. A $15,000 reward is now on the table for information leading to his capture.
By Megan Ivanov ·
Cody Birchfield’s sister said she is reliving the tragedy of her brother's murder because the man convicted of killing him is free again. Jacob Morley, 28, escaped from a Tennessee prison on Friday night, forcing loved ones to ask the public for help in locating the fugitive.
Morley was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 for the murder of Birchfield. Investigators found Birchfield's body buried beneath Morley's home. The Tennessee Department of Correction confirmed on Monday that Morley was unaccounted for at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville at 11:30 p.m. on October 25, 2026.
Security footage showed Morley cutting through the perimeter fence and leaving the facility in his prison uniform. Shortly after, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released images of him stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 at approximately 1 a.m. on Monday from the 400 block of Keystone Drive. The truck bears Tennessee license plate 138BBQV.
Authorities located the stolen truck in Marion, Illinois, on Tuesday. Despite finding the vehicle, officials have not yet located Morley. The reward for information leading to his arrest now stands at a combined $15,000.
Carrie Norman, Birchfield's sister, stated that she is forced to ask for public assistance to find her brother's killer when he should be locked away. She described Birchfield as a kind man who would give his shirt to help others. Diana Reid, a friend of the victim, expressed concern for public safety, noting that it is terrifying to know the convicted murderer is on the run.
Daniel Russell, a childhood friend of Birchfield, said he had started to move on from the loss until Morley's face appeared on social media. Russell described the experience as bringing everything back up. He and other family members are waiting for news as the search continues in Illinois and Tennessee.
The search for Morley is ongoing. Investigators are using the location of the stolen truck as a starting point. The TBI is reviewing new footage related to the theft. The combined reward for information remains at $15,000.
Source: ABC7 New York
