Escaped 𝘬iᩚller Hid in Hunting Shed, Stole Three Guns and Left Behind a Bizarre Apology Note
A convicted murderer who escaped from a Tennessee prison spent days hiding in a hunting shed, drinking beer and preparing food before stealing another truck and leaving behind an unusual handwritten apology note.
Jacob Morley, 28, was captured near Kansas City, Missouri, on November 3 after spending 10 days on the run following his escape from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tennessee.
Authorities believe Morley made his way to a farm near Marion, Illinois, roughly 127 miles from the prison. After abandoning an earlier stolen vehicle, he allegedly walked approximately three miles through fields and wooded areas before reaching the property.
Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich said investigators discovered evidence that Morley had stayed in a shed occasionally used by hunters. During his time there, he reportedly drank beer and prepared food, including garlic bread.
But the most unusual discovery was a handwritten note apologizing for taking a truck from the property.
Investigators believe Morley stole clothing and three firearms, including two rifles and a shotgun, before leaving in the vehicle. Authorities have not disclosed the exact wording of his apology note.
His escape began on October 25, when he reportedly slipped through a perimeter fence at the Tennessee prison while wearing prison clothing. Surveillance footage later showed him stealing a truck from a nearby farm.
After reaching Illinois, he allegedly abandoned that vehicle before taking another one. Investigators are still trying to establish how he managed to travel hundreds of miles without being detected.
His journey finally ended when law enforcement officers tracked him near Kansas City using roadside surveillance cameras and a helicopter. The truck he was driving became stuck in mud, allowing officers to arrest him without resistance.
Police recovered the three firearms from the vehicle.
Morley was serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of his former co-worker, Cody Birchfield. Birchfield had disappeared for several weeks before his body was discovered inside a box beneath Morley’s home.
Morley was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, evidence tampering, vandalism and evading arrest.
Following his recapture, he faced federal charges connected to his escape and alleged possession of firearms as a convicted felon. Tennessee authorities also indicated that additional charges could follow in connection with the thefts.
Investigators have found no evidence that anyone helped Morley during his time on the run. However, several questions remain unanswered, including why he travelled to Illinois and how he eventually reached Missouri, more than 350 miles from the prison.
The handwritten apology note may have been an unexpected clue in an escape that left authorities trying to reconstruct the movements of a convicted 𝘬iᩚller across multiple states.
Source: DAILYMAIL
