Tennessee fugitive leaves truck in Illinois

Jacob Morley, a 28-year-old inmate serving a life sentence for murder, abandoned a stolen truck in Marion, Illinois, on Tuesday. He fled the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tennessee late Sunday and covered roughly 120 miles before leaving the vehicle in a southern Illinois community.

Surveillance footage from a farm near Tiptonville shows Morley exiting his prison clothes and entering an unlocked truck at approximately 1 a.m. on Monday. The farm is located about two miles from the prison. Firefighters in Hornbeak, Tennessee, confirmed their cameras captured the truck passing their station 15 minutes later. The vehicle was eventually found 120 miles north of the prison, near St. Louis.

Morley was convicted in 2022 of killing co-worker Cody Birchfield. Birchfield's body was discovered in a box under Morley's home in Carter County, Tennessee, after weeks of searching. The court also convicted Morley of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism, and evading arrest. During the arrest process, Morley led deputies on a chase that ended in North Carolina.

Prison officials stated Morley slipped through a fence at the Northwest Correctional Complex. They have not disclosed if an accomplice assisted in the escape. The facility, located about 90 miles north of Memphis, has a capacity for 1,776 men and houses minors convicted as adults. A grand jury returned dozens of indictments in July for five inmate killings and other violent acts at the complex.

Authorities have placed a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to Morley's arrest. Police have searched buildings and structures near the prison. Morley is described as white, 5 feet 11 inches tall, and 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Investigators have not located him as of Tuesday.