The convicted killer
went on to steal a truck, seek cover in a shed, drink beer and write an apology note before he was eventually apprehended near Kansas City, Missouri, officials revealed Wednesday.
asserted
officials → convict → City
Jacob Morley, 28, remained at large for more than a week before his capture, but authorities were still trying to figure out how he managed to evade law enforcement for as long as he did.
asserted
he → remain → enforcement
Morley was serving a life sentence for murder at the Northwest Correctional Complex in northwestern Tennessee when
on the property and fled on the night of Oct. 25, the Tennessee Department of Correction said.
asserted
Department → serve → Correction
Morley was found after troopers used roadside cameras and a helicopter to track him down and his truck got stuck in the mud.
asserted
truck → find → mud
Two rifles and a shotgun were recovered from the truck, authorities said.
asserted
authorities → recover → truck
They believe Morley found his way to a farm near Marion, Illinois — about 127 miles away — in the days after his escape, spending some time in a shed that was used periodically by hunters.
asserted
that → believe → hunters
Investigators found evidence that he drank beer and prepared garlic bread and other food — and that he left behind an apologetic handwritten note after stealing a truck from the farm, according to Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich.
uncertain
he → find → Diederich
Morley is also suspected of stealing clothes and the three firearms from the property.
asserted
Morley → suspect → property
Diederich believes Morley walked about 3 miles to the farm after abandoning a different truck he had driven after his escape.
asserted
he → believe → escape
Security cameras captured Morley walking away from the truck and at a couple of locations along Route 13, but the terrain — which includes fields and woods — would have made it tough for him to be spotted, Diederich said.
asserted
Diederich → capture → fields
It's unclear why Morley traveled to Marion and why he was driving near Kansas City, more than 350 miles away.
uncertain
he → travel → City
"How he ended up in Marion is kind of a mystery," Diederich said.
asserted
Diederich → end → mystery
Diederich said there's no evidence Morley had help from anyone.
asserted
Morley → say → anyone
After Morley's prison escape, surveillance video showed him stealing a truck from a farm near the prison, which he abandoned in Marion.
asserted
he → show → Marion
Kim Wheeler-Elder, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, wrote in a text message that all "available information" regarding Morley's whereabouts when he was on the run has been released.
asserted
he → write → run
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it was informed Tuesday morning that Morley was possibly traveling west on Interstate 70 in the Kansas City area.
uncertain
Morley → say → area
Authorities said he was compliant when he was arrested.
asserted
he → say → ?
Morley was transported to the Lafayette County jail in Lexington, Missouri, according to Justin Ewing, a spokesperson for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
uncertain
Morley → transport → Patrol
The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
asserted
Office → respond → comment
No charges have been filed against him in Missouri courts, according to online court records.
uncertain
charges → file → records
Before Morley was apprehended, he was charged in federal court in Tennessee with one count of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, court documents show.
asserted
documents → apprehend → prosecution
Morley was also charged Tuesday in federal court in Missouri with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
asserted
Morley → charge → firearm
A deputy U.S. marshal interviewed Morley at the Lafayette County jail on Tuesday and Morley admitted to escaping the Tennessee prison, stealing the truck in Marion as well as the two rifles and shotgun, according to a probable cause affidavit.
uncertain
Morley → interview → affidavit
District Attorney General Danny Goodman Jr. in Tennessee said in a phone interview that he plans to file additional charges but it's unclear when Morley will be returned to Tennessee.
uncertain
Morley → say → Tennessee
Morley was convicted of killing co-worker Cody Birchfield in 2022.
asserted
Morley → convict → 2022
Birchfield's body was found in a box under Morley's home after he had been missing for a few weeks.
asserted
he → find → weeks
When Morley saw deputies at his home, he led officers on a chase that ended in North Carolina, authorities said.
asserted
authorities → see → Carolina
Morley was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism and evading arrest.
asserted
Morley → convict → arrest
The Aporia
