TBI raises Jacob Morley reward to $15,000

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced on Tuesday that the reward for information leading to the arrest of Jacob Morley has increased to $15,000. The combined offer includes $7,500 from the Tennessee Governor’s Office, $2,500 from the TBI, and $5,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service. Morley escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Lake County early Monday morning.

Morley is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for the 2022 first-degree murder of Cody Birchfield in Carter County. He remains at large after leaving the facility in Lake County. Authorities said a truck that Morley allegedly stole in Obion County was found abandoned in Marion, Illinois, on Tuesday. U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, Tyreece Miller, confirmed that the Marshals are assisting with the investigation and deploying resources to Marion.

Miller stated that the search is not limited to the Marion area, noting that other leads are coming in. “We don’t think that he’s going to do anything that’s going to help us. You know, we can, we can certainly send the plea out for him to turn himself in. I’m hopeful that he’ll do that because that’s really the only way we can ensure his safety,” Miller said. The TBI reported that Morley’s whereabouts remain unknown, making his location an urgent priority.

Marion Police said Morley has been on the run for close to 30 hours. They added that there is no evidence he is still in the immediate area. The FBI Nashville Field Office confirmed they are assisting with the case. Illinois and Kentucky State Police have also offered assistance to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Miller advised the public to stay vigilant, lock vehicles, doors, and windows, and check outdoor cameras for images that may help locate the inmate.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND immediately. If a resident sees Morley, officials instructed them not to approach him and to call 911. The search involves multiple agencies across state lines as the manhunt continues.