Tennessee inmate Jacob Morley appears in federal court after escaping TDOC

JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) - Tennessee inmate Jacob Allen Morley appeared in federal court Monday after escaping from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville on Oct. 25.

Escaping TDOC

Morley was serving a life sentence at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville when records say he was unaccounted for during an inmate count at about 11:30 p.m. Surveillance footage showed him wearing a correctional facility uniform and breaching the facility fence.

Information was later received that Morley traveled to Marion, Illinois, where he stole a white Ford F-350 that contained two rifles and a shotgun. The truck’s license plate was entered into a license plate reader system, the affidavit says. Several readers near I-35 Highway and Pleasant Valley Road in Liberty, Missouri, recorded hits on the plate.

Task force searches Liberty area

Task force members, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Career Criminal Unit members and Deputy U.S. Marshal Aaron Riley searched the area between MO-152 Highway and MO-291 Highway.

They found the truck in the Savers store parking lot, located at 300 Route MO-291 Highway in Liberty. Morley was then identified as the driver.

Capturing Morley

According to the affidavit, Morley drove south on MO-291 Highway and then east on MO-210 Highway. Officers followed in unmarked vehicles and a Kansas City Missouri Police Department helicopter assisted from above.

Morley turned onto a gravel road marked County Road 350 in Norborne. At the intersection with County Road 147, he drove off the road. Morley got stuck in mud, and task force members got behind the truck to give verbal commands for Morley to exit the vehicle. Morley followed the commands and was taken into custody without incident.

Morley confesses

Morley admitted to escaping the Northwest Correctional Complex and to stealing the Ford F-350 as well as the three firearms in the rear passenger seat.

Charges and warrant

Morley was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. A New England Firearms H&R 12-gauge shotgun, a Tikka T3x .22-caliber rifle with a Vortex scope and a Savage Model 112 .25-caliber rifle with a Burris Black Diamond scope were found in the stolen vehicle. 69 shotgun shells were also found in the vehicle.

An arrest warrant was also issued for Morley for traveling in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent to avoid prosecution.