Family of murdered man asks for help as fugitive's reward hits $15,000

The combined reward for information leading to the arrest of Jacob Morley reached $15,000 on Wednesday. Authorities announced the increase as the manhunt continued for the 28-year-old fugitive. Morley is serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of Cody Birchfield.

Birchfield's sister, Carrie Norman, spoke about the renewed stress facing the family. She said that she is "reliving this horrible tragedy all over again." Norman said she feels forced to ask the public for help to find her brother's killer. She noted that Morley should currently be locked away in prison.

Norman described Birchfield as a kind man. She said he would give people the shirt off his back if they needed it. A friend of Birchfield, Diana Reid, said she was "horrified" that the convicted murderer escaped. Reid said the news made it difficult to sleep or think clearly. She expressed concern for public safety, noting that the public does not know what Morley may be willing to do to avoid capture.

Daniel Russell, a childhood friend of Birchfield, said he was beginning to move on from the murder. He described waking up on Wednesday to see Morley's face everywhere on Facebook. Russell said the sudden visibility of the fugitive brought the pain of losing Birchfield back up.

The Tennessee Department of Correction announced on Monday that Morley escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville. Staff confirmed he was unaccounted for at approximately 11:30 p.m. On October 25. Security cameras showed Morley breaching the perimeter fence. He exited the facility still wearing his department uniform.

Investigators released a photo of a stolen truck linked to the escape on Monday. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said footage showed Morley stealing a white 2008 Ford F-350 at approximately 1 a.m. On Monday. The truck, with Tennessee tag 138BBQV, was taken from the 400 block of Keystone Drive. Authorities located the truck in Marion, Illinois, on Tuesday. Morley's location remains unknown as of Wednesday.