Lake County escaped inmate now on ‘Most Wanted’ list, $2,500 reward for info

LAKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WMC) - The Tennessee Department of Correction says an inmate has escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Lake County. Officials identified the inmate as Jacob Morley.

TDOC said it is working closely with law enforcement to find him and said public safety is the top priority. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says Morley stole a white 2008 Ford F-350 during his escape around 1 a.m. Monday. The truck has a Tennessee plate 138BBQV and is marked with Lindamood Planting Company on the side.

TBI later released footage capturing Morley stealing the Ford truck around 1 a.m. from the 400 block of Keystone Dr. in Lake County. TBI released new footage of escaped inmate Jacob Morley stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 Morley is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in the 2022 killing of Cody Birchfield in Carter County, officials said. He was also convicted of abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and aggravated burglary.

Morley was found guilty on Feb. 3, sentenced to life with chance of parole. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Morley has now been added to the Tennessee Most Wanted List and should be considered dangerous.

Summary of the outlet's own feed. From WVLT (Knoxville), October 26, 2026.