Missouri Troopers Recapture Tennessee Murderer Nine Days After Prison Escape

Jacob Allen Morley was back in custody at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, November 3, in Liberty, Missouri. The recapture ended a nine-day search for the convicted murderer who slipped out of the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, on October 25.

Missouri State Highway Patrol officers acted on a tip from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The intel suggested Morley was driving westbound on Interstate 70 near Independence. Patrol units used FLOCK cameras to locate the suspect's vehicle. Undercover officers traveling south on Missouri 291 then spotted the car and moved in.

As troopers closed the distance, Morley tried to steer his vehicle off the road. The truck got stuck in the terrain. Officers took him into custody without incident. He had been in police view for roughly two hours before the final stop.

The operation required coordination across state lines. The Kansas City Police Department, Independence Police Department, Career Criminal Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Marshals Service all contributed resources. The Missouri State Highway Patrol credited these partners for helping ensure a safe apprehension.

Prison staff noticed Morley missing around 11:30 p.m. on the night of the breakout. Surveillance video showed him crossing the facility's perimeter fence. Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatch audio placed him at the prison at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Authorities believe he stole a truck to leave the state.

Morley was originally arrested in 2022 for the murder of Cody Birchfield. Birchfield's body was found under Morley's home after police detained him near the North Carolina border. A 2025 trial resulted in a first-degree murder conviction. He also pleaded guilty to burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest, and vandalism.

During the trial, Morley's ex-girlfriend testified against him. She told the court, "he f, ing killed him." Her testimony helped secure the life sentence. Morley is now back in Tennessee custody after his week on the run.