A warrant has been issued for an Alabama corrections officer who disappeared with an inmate Friday — the day she was set to retire, authorities mentioned Monday.
The officer, Vicky White, is needed on a cost of allowing or facilitating the escape of capital homicide suspect Casey White from the Lauderdale County Jail, Sheriff Rick Singleton mentioned throughout a news convention. Vicky and Casey White aren’t associated.
“We know she participated” in his escape, Singleton mentioned. “Whether she did that willingly or was coerced or threatened, we’re not really sure, but we know for sure she did participate.”
Vicky White had talked about retiring for months, musing about on a regular basis she’d spend on the seashore, Singleton mentioned. She had offered her home, and her final day of labor as a Lauderdale County corrections officer was purported to be Friday.
“This is not the Vicky White we know by any stretch of the imagination,” Singleton mentioned. “Everybody thought she was going to retire.”
“Nobody saw this coming,” he added.
Singleton mentioned all potentialities relating to the connection between Vicky and Casey White are being investigated, together with a romantic one. Officials are reviewing jail video footage to see if Vicky White spent an inordinate period of time close to Casey White’s cell.
Casey White, 38, was charged with two counts of capital homicide in September 2020 within the stabbing of Connie Ridgeway, 58, and he was already in jail in connection with a 2015 dwelling invasion, carjacking and a police chase, in line with the U.S. Marshals Service. He confessed to stabbing Ridgeway and was awaiting trial on the Lauderdale County Jail when he disappeared, in line with the company.
The U.S. Marshals Service is providing as much as $10,000 for information resulting in the seize of Vicky and Casey White. Authorities mentioned Monday that they had acquired a number of suggestions.
Vicky and Casey White left the detention heart, purportedly for a psychological well being analysis at court docket. But investigators have since confirmed that such an analysis was by no means scheduled, Singleton mentioned over the weekend.
At the time of her departure, Vicky White informed the reserving officer that she could be going to a medical appointment after she dropped off Casey White as a result of she wasn’t feeling nicely. But she had no appointment scheduled, Singleton mentioned.
She additionally transported the suspect by herself — a strict violation of the coverage requiring two sworn deputies to move an individual underneath these prices, the sheriff mentioned.
The marked 2013 Ford Taurus patrol automobile they traveled in was later discovered at a shopping mall, Singleton mentioned. Surveillance video reveals the 2 went straight to the procuring heart, and by no means stopped on the courthouse.
Officers realized the 2 had been lacking at round 3:30 p.m. Friday, when Vicky White’s cellphone went straight to voicemail after repeated makes an attempt to contact her, Singleton mentioned, including that it was then confirmed that Casey White by no means returned to the detention heart, both.
Casey White is 6-feet-9, weighs about 260 kilos and has brown hair and hazel eyes, U.S. marshals mentioned. On Sunday afternoon, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office launched its most up-to-date picture of White.
“He’s a large individual,” Singleton mentioned. “He will stand out.”
But he warned the general public to not strategy Casey White. Even police who may encounter him must be on alert.
“I can’t emphasize this enough to our brothers and sisters in blue, if you encounter this guy, you need to know he is dangerous, don’t take any chances,” Singleton mentioned. “He has nothing to lose. He is extremely dangerous.”