Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A Carter County Circuit Court jury Friday found Jacob Morley guilty of murder. He was also found guilty of abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, aggravated burglary, and theft of property. His sentencing is set for June 27.

Morley was found guilty of first-degree murder of Cody Birchfield, who was described as a longtime friend of Morley.

According to testimony, Birchfield was reported missing from his Elizabethton home in February 2022. His body was found hidden underneath Morley’s home in March 2022. Birchfield’s family reportedly told investigators that he was last seen with Morley on February 21 of that year. Investigators testified they found evidence that Birchfield had been with Morley after disappearing.

Investigators with the Carter County Sheriff’s Dept. reported that they observed indications inside Birchfield’s home that a violent crime had been committed. Search warrants for Morley’s home and car were obtained. On March 2, the day Morley’s home was searched and Birchfield’s body was found, Morley allegedly initiated a pursuit with police during an attempted traffic stop.

Officers pursued him to the North Carolina state line. After requesting assistance from the Avery County, N.C., Sheriff’s Office, Morley was stopped and taken into custody.

After the chase, local authorities searched Morley’s home, where they found Birchfield’s body hidden beneath the house.

Morley earlier had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.

Judge Stacy Street presided over the trial. Prosecuting attorneys were ADA Dennis Brooks and ADA Darcee Kubisiak.

Morley’s defense attorney was Erin McCardle.