Developing public-safety report · October 26, 2026
Tennessee authorities are searching for Jacob Morley, 28, after his escape from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville. The Tennessee Department of Correction’s October 26 alert tells the public not to approach him and to report information to law enforcement.
Public guidance: Call 911 or 1-844-832-3463 with information about Morley’s whereabouts. Do not approach, confront or try to apprehend him. Those instructions come from authorities, not from an invitation for members of the public to conduct their own search.
What authorities have reported
According to ABC News’ October 26 report, TDOC said staff confirmed Morley was unaccounted for around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, October 25. The agency said an emergency count and facility search followed.
In its 9:01 a.m. update Monday, TDOC said security-camera review confirmed that Morley breached the perimeter fence and left in his prison uniform. The department said local, state and federal agencies were working together to apprehend him.
TDOC identified Morley as a prisoner serving a life sentence for first-degree murder. Its public alert describes him as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.
The prison is in Lake County in northwest Tennessee. Monday’s warning concerns the search following the Sunday-night discovery; it should not be confused with a claim that the escape occurred at the time this article was published.
What remains unresolved
We have not verified Morley’s current location, any subsequent change in appearance or a capture announcement. Nor are we identifying a civilian, vehicle or private address as connected to his movements. A public warning is not evidence that every sighting circulating online is accurate.
The authorities’ request is for information to reach investigators. If you believe you recognize him, use the official numbers and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Do not turn a possible sighting into a confrontation or publish an accusation against somebody who merely resembles a photograph.
Keep the alert attached to its source
When sharing a developing search report, the most useful information is the person authorities have identified, the date of the alert and the official reporting channel. A screenshot that loses those details can keep circulating long after the situation changes.
This report reflects the search information available in our October 26 source review. Any confirmed capture, revised official description or new public instruction would materially change it. Readers should consult TDOC’s newsroom for the agency’s latest announcements.
The photograph below shows the actual prison in an older file image. It does not depict the escape, a current search operation or Morley’s location.
Follow Crime & Courts for further documented developments.
Photograph and credit
File photograph: Northwest Correctional Complex near Tiptonville, Tennessee, viewed from the west on April 12, 2013. This is not a photograph of the October 2026 escape or search. Photo: Nyttend/Wikimedia Commons; released into the public domain and resized for display. Original photograph and public-domain rights record.
Editorial note: This article draws on the linked sources and may include clearly labeled opinion or unconfirmed reports. We have not independently verified every source claim. Publication does not establish an unconfirmed claim as fact; developing details may change.
Facts first. Side-eye included.
DJF separates what is confirmed from what is claimed—and tells you why this particular mess is worth your time.