Tennessee fugitive Jacob Morley arrested near Kansas City
The convicted murderer was caught by Missouri State Highway Patrol after authorities found his stolen truck in Marion, Illinois.
By Aiko Sato ·
Jacob Allen Morley, a 28-year-old man serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in Tennessee, was taken into custody in Carroll County, Missouri, on Tuesday. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed the arrest after the Missouri State Highway Patrol stopped him near Norborne, a community located about an hour east of Kansas City.
Morley escaped the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, on the night of October 25, 2026. Prison staff discovered he was missing at approximately 11:30 p.m. and conducted an immediate search. Security footage showed Morley cutting through the perimeter fence and leaving the facility while wearing his department uniform.
Before his capture, Morley stole a white 2005 Ford pickup truck in Tennessee. The vehicle was later located in Williamson County, Illinois. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of the stolen vehicle on Tuesday morning, southwest of the city of Marion, Illinois.
Sheriff's investigators linked the truck to Morley and coordinated with other law enforcement agencies. This collaboration led to his apprehension by the Missouri State Highway Patrol as he drove through the Kansas City area.
Morley was originally convicted in Carter County, Tennessee, for first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, evading arrest, and vandalism. He had been serving a life sentence for these crimes at the Tiptonville facility prior to his escape.
