TIPTONVILLE, TN — State corrections officers are searching for Jacob Morley after he escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Department of Corrections. Morley was serving a life sentence for murder when prison staff discovered he was missing late Sunday night.

Officials said he was unaccounted for at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. Security footage later showed Morley breaching the fence and leaving the prison grounds in a TDOC uniform, prompting a wider search effort. The facility is in Lake County, roughly two hours from Memphis.

Authorities say Morley was convicted in 2025 in the 2022 killing of Cody Birchfield

Morley had been convicted in 2025 in connection with the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield, and he was serving that life sentence in Carter County before the escape, according to TDOC.

The prison system has not publicly detailed how long Morley had been at the Northwest Correctional Complex before disappearing, but officials confirmed the escape happened at the facility in Tiptonville. His case has now shifted from a homicide conviction to a manhunt across western Tennessee.

Because Morley was already serving a life term, the escape adds a separate criminal and security concern for state officials trying to locate him quickly.

Security footage shows the inmate breach the fence and leave in uniform

TDOC said prison video captured Morley getting past the fence and walking away from the complex while wearing his department-issued uniform. That detail is central to the search because it suggests he left without changing clothes or using any vehicle identified in the information released so far.

Officials did not say how he managed to get beyond the perimeter or whether any staff members were directly involved. The prison system has also not said whether the escape triggered any broader lockdown measures at the complex.

For now, the confirmed details come from TDOC: Morley was missing, the fence had been breached, and the security footage showed his departure.

State and local law enforcement are asking the public for immediate help

Anyone who sees Morley or has information about his location is being urged to call the Tennessee Department of Corrections at 1-844-832-3463 or contact 911 right away. Officials are treating the case as an active escape investigation.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is also offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to Morley’s arrest. That reward is meant to encourage quick tips from anyone who may have seen him after he left the prison or who has information about where he may have gone.

Authorities have not released a fuller description of any clothing, vehicle, or destination tied to the escape. The public notice remains focused on locating him as soon as possible.

The Northwest Correctional Complex sits in a rural part of western Tennessee

The Northwest Correctional Complex is located in Tiptonville, a town in Lake County near the northwest corner of Tennessee. Officials described it as being about two hours from Memphis, underscoring that the escape happened in a remote area rather than a major metro setting.

That location matters because a prison break from a rural facility can quickly spread into surrounding roads, neighborhoods, and counties, depending on where the inmate headed after leaving the perimeter. In this case, state officials have not said whether Morley is believed to still be nearby or whether he may have moved farther away.

The complex is one of the state facilities operated by TDOC, and the escape has put the prison system under immediate scrutiny as officers continue the search.

What remains unknown as the search continues across Tennessee

Several basic questions remain unanswered, including how Morley got past the fence, whether he had any help, and where he may have gone after leaving the prison grounds. TDOC has not released those details, and investigators have not said whether they have any confirmed sightings after the escape.

The absence of that information leaves officers relying on tips, surveillance review, and the ongoing work of state law enforcement agencies. For now, the clearest facts are that Morley was serving a life sentence, he escaped late Sunday, and state authorities are trying to track him down.

Anyone with relevant information is being told to contact TDOC or call 911 immediately.