New timeline details convicted murderer Jacob Morley’s escape from Tennessee prison

LAKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WBBJ) – New details have emerged regarding convicted murderer Jacob Allen Morley’s escape from the Northwest Correctional Complex, revealing hours of delay before prison staff outside of law enforcement learned about it.

According to 29th Judicial District Attorney General Danny Goodman Jr., Morley had already crossed state lines before prison officials alerted outside agencies.

“He was already in Marion, Illinois, before they even called anyone outside of TDOC,” Goodman said.

Goodman said Morley was reported missing following an inmate count and staff alerted an internal investigator around 2 a.m. However, this investigator did not notify the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), or the District Attorney’s Office until 5:30 a.m. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department was not contacted until 6:15 a.m.

Sources involved in the investigation released a detailed timeline detailing the hours surrounding the escape:

• Sunday October 25, 9:30 p.m.: A correctional officer conducted a routine cell count, a procedure in which one officer counts inmates and a second follows to check. When the first officer arrived at Morley’s cell, the door window was covered. Rather than have the lid removed, the officer knocked and asked how many inmates were inside. One inmate falsely claimed that two were present. Morley was not in the cell.
• 10:00 p.m.: The second officer carrying out the check discovered that Morley was missing.
• 11:47 p.m.: Prison officials called an emergency count and confirmed Morley was missing. Investigators believe Morley had already left the scene at this point.
• Monday October 26, 12:25 a.m.: Prison staff conducted a second emergency count, suspecting Morley of hiding within the facility.
• Around 1:00 a.m.: Morley allegedly stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 utility truck marked “Lindamood Planting Company” and headed to Illinois.
• 02:20: Jail staff notified an internal TDOC investigator.
• 3:30 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.: Staff discovered a breach in the perimeter security fencing where Morley had forced his way in after hiding among pallets and a trash cart behind the main kitchen.
• 5:30 a.m. – 6:15 a.m.: Out-of-state and local law enforcement have been officially notified.

The stolen truck was later found abandoned in Marion, Illinois, where local police reported no indication that Morley remained in the immediate area.

Morley was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield in Carter County.

Authorities are also investigating a possible connection between Morley and a Tuesday afternoon armed robbery at the Bank of Deerfield in Dane County, Wisconsin. In that incident, an armed attacker tied up employees and fled in a stolen vehicle that was later found abandoned. The TBI confirmed it was tracking the Wisconsin incident, although no formal connection has been made.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in investigating Tuesday evening’s armed robbery at the Bank of Deerfield.

If anyone has trail cameras along State Farm Road between Highway 12/18 and Prairie Drive, along Clearview Road between Highway 12/18 and CTH PQ, or along Highway 73 and Fadness Road, or if you have driven those roads with a dash cam, authorities are asking you to review the footage. If you see anything suspicious, call Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.

TBI is also asking for help from the public, especially truck drivers, travelers or anyone in the area of ​​the Pilot Travel Center, located at 2611 Vernell Road in Marion, Illinois, on Monday, October 26, between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. If you have a dash cam, please view the footage. Even if something seemed insignificant at the time, it could be crucial information for investigators.

Please call 1-800-TBI-FIND or 911 immediately for any information.

Morley is on the TBI’s most wanted list and is considered dangerous. The U.S. Marshals Service and state authorities are offering a reward of up to $17,500 for information leading to his capture. Anyone with details on their whereabouts should call 1-800-TBI-FIND or dial 911.