Escaped Murderer Morley Captured in Missouri
Tennessee authorities say convicted murderer Jacob Allen Morley, who escaped a Tiptonville prison in October, is back in custody near Kansas City, Missouri.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Crime — General
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced that Jacob Allen Morley, a convicted murderer who escaped the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, has been taken into custody near Kansas City, Missouri. The Dane County Sheriff's Office said no information yet connects Morley to an armed robbery at the Bank of Deerfield.
Why it matters
Morley was serving a life sentence for the 2022 killing of Cody Birchfield, so his escape and capture bear directly on public safety in Tennessee and beyond. Authorities are still determining whether his movements connect to the Deerfield robbery, which a separate sheriff's investigation is pursuing.
Morley is in custody after escaping a Tennessee prison on October 25 and is serving a life sentence for the 2022 killing of Cody Birchfield. The Dane County Sheriff's Office says its investigation into the Bank of Deerfield robbery continues, and no link to Morley has been established.
The players
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
The state agency responsible for statewide criminal investigations, which announced Morley's capture and is leading inquiries into the escape.
Dane County Sheriff's Office
The Wisconsin county law enforcement agency investigating the Bank of Deerfield robbery and stating that no link to Morley has yet been established.
The details
Morley escaped the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville late on October 25 and stole a Ford F-350, which was later found abandoned in Marion, Illinois on October 27. On the same day, a man with a handgun robbed the Bank of Deerfield branch at 867 Shaul Lane as employees were closing; the suspect was described as a white male with a red beard wearing camo clothing.
Timeline
2022: Morley is convicted and sentenced to life for the killing of Cody Birchfield.
October 25, 2026: Morley escapes the Tiptonville prison late that night.
October 27, 2026: The stolen Ford F-350 is found in Marion, Illinois, and the Bank of Deerfield robbery occurs around 5 p.m.
November 3, 2026: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announces Morley is in custody near Kansas City, Missouri.
Legal Context
Morley's case involves a life sentence for homicide and an escape that crossed state lines, prompting coordination between Tennessee authorities, Illinois police, and Missouri officers. Cross-jurisdictional manhunts for escaped inmates follow established interstate cooperation practices in criminal investigations.
Residents near Tiptonville, Deerfield and Marion should stay alert to the investigation's updates, as authorities have not yet ruled out connections to the Deerfield robbery. Anyone with information about the robbery or Morley's movements is encouraged to contact the Dane County Sheriff's Office.
The takeaway
The arrest closes the escape phase of this case, but the Bank of Deerfield robbery remains open, so anyone with details from October 27 should share them with investigators. Readers following the story can check official Tennessee Bureau of Investigation updates for confirmed developments.
Further reading
For more on related cases, browse Crime — General coverage.
