Authorities are still piecing together how Jacob Morley, a Tennessee inmate serving a life sentence for murder, managed to stay on the run for more than ten days before being apprehended near Kansas City, Missouri.
Escape and early movements
Morley slipped through a fence at the Northwest Correctional Complex on Oct. 25 while still wearing prison clothing. Surveillance video captured him stealing a truck from a nearby farm, which he later abandoned.
After abandoning the first vehicle, Morley is believed to have walked roughly three miles before reaching a second truck, which he also stole. He then traveled westward, eventually crossing into Illinois.
Stop in Marion, Illinois
Investigators say Morley spent time on a farm near Marion, Illinois—about 127 miles from the prison. He reportedly stayed in a shed used by hunters, drank beer, and prepared garlic bread and other food. A handwritten note left at the farm expressed an apology for the theft.
Two rifles and a shotgun were recovered from the truck he left behind, and authorities suspect he also took clothing and the three firearms from the property.
Capture in Missouri
On Tuesday, Missouri State Highway Patrol officers received a tip that Morley might be traveling west on Interstate 70 near Kansas City. Troopers deployed roadside cameras and a helicopter to track his vehicle, which became stuck in mud. Morley was taken into custody without incident and later transferred to the Lafayette County Jail in Lexington, Missouri.
Legal fallout
District Attorney General Danny Goodman Jr. of Tennessee indicated that Morley could face additional charges in Missouri, Illinois, and possibly federal court. It remains unclear when he will be returned to Tennessee to continue serving his life sentence.
Morley was originally convicted of first‑degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism and evading arrest for the 2022 killing of co‑worker Cody Birchfield, whose body was later found in a box under Morley’s home.
Original reporting: Capitol City Now (WTAX 1240 Springfield) — read the source article.
