Security cameras caught a convicted murderer squeezing through a prison fence in Tennessee and running off into the night, and he is still on the loose.
Quick Take
- Jacob Allen Morley, serving life for murder, escaped Northwest Correctional Complex late October 25
- Staff found him missing around 11:30 p.m. and launched an emergency search
- Camera footage shows him climbing the perimeter fence in his prison uniform
- Investigators say he then stole a pickup truck and is now on the state’s Most Wanted list
- Tennessee is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for tips leading to his arrest
Guards Discover Inmate Missing During Nighttime Count
Staff at Northwest Correctional Complex realized Jacob Allen Morley was gone around 11:30 p.m. on October 25, 2026. The Tennessee Department of Correction confirmed his absence during an emergency count and ordered an immediate search of the facility. Morley, inmate number 674793, had been serving a life sentence for murder before he vanished from the prison grounds.
The Tennessee Department of Correction quickly notified the public and asked for help finding him. Officials posted a formal release the next day, naming Morley directly and describing him as an escaped inmate who needed to be located and returned to custody.
Camera Footage Shows Fence Breach
A closer review of security cameras gave investigators a clear picture of how Morley got out. The Department of Correction said the footage confirmed he climbed over the perimeter fence and left the facility while still wearing his prison uniform. That detail gave searchers an early description to share with the public and nearby law enforcement agencies.
News outlets across the country picked up the story within hours. NBC News, ABC News, CNN and several regional stations all reported the same core details: the October 25 escape, the 11:30 p.m. discovery, and the camera-confirmed fence breach. The consistent reporting from multiple outlets reinforced the state’s account of what happened that night.
Stolen Truck Adds Urgency to Manhunt
Investigators believe Morley did not stay on foot for long. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said separate video showed him stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck with Tennessee plates at about 1 a.m. on October 26, just hours after he left the prison. That vehicle gave him a way to cover ground fast and complicated efforts to track his location.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation added Morley to its Most Wanted list soon after the escape became public. The agency is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to his arrest, a step state officials use to push the public to report sightings or tips directly to investigators.
Escapes From Secure Prisons Are Rare
Breakouts from secure prisons like Northwest Correctional Complex are far less common than the word “escape” might suggest. Research on national escape data found that roughly 1.4% of the prison population escapes custody each year, but the vast majority of those cases come from minimum-security settings rather than tightly secured facilities. That pattern makes a fence breach at a secure prison more unusual.
MANHUNT – PLS RT:
Jacob Allen Morley, 28
5’8” | 240lbs | Green eyes | Brown hairHe escaped custody in Tennessee and should be considered dangerous.
New video shows him stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 | TN tag: 138BBQV | Marked with Lindamood Planting Company
Reward of up to… pic.twitter.com/RyybBRkoiD
— Nancy Grace (@NancyGrace) October 27, 2026
Tennessee lawmakers have already raised questions this year about prison security and staffing after other inmate escapes in the state. Those earlier incidents pushed some state officials to ask the Department of Correction for more answers about leadership and conditions inside its facilities, adding context to how this latest escape fits into a broader pattern of scrutiny.
Search Continues as Authorities Urge Caution
Law enforcement agencies are still actively searching for Morley, and the public is asked to avoid approaching him directly. Authorities have described him as dangerous given his murder conviction and the circumstances of his escape, and they are relying heavily on tips from residents who may spot him or the stolen truck. The case remains an active investigation as of this report.
Sources:
townhall.com, tn.gov, nbcnews.com, abcnews.com
