Alabama corrections officer ‘willingly’ helped murder suspect escape: sheriff
An Alabama corrections officer who had a “special relationship” with an accused murderer “willingly” helped him escape last week, investigators believe.
“I think all of our employees and myself included were really hoping that she did not participate in this willingly. But all indications are that she absolutely did,” Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton told ABC News Wednesday.
“We’re very disappointed in that because we had the utmost trust in her as an employee and as an assistant director of corrections.”
Vicky White, 56, checked Casey White, no relation, out of the Lauderdale County Jail Friday morning, telling deputies that she was bringing him to the courthouse for a mental health evaluation, according to police. Instead, the two drove off and have not been seen since.
Alabama corrections officer had ‘special relationship’ with inmate she allegedly helped escape
The officer, a 17-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, had recently sold her house and filed retirement paperwork. Her last day was supposed to be Friday.
A warrant for her arrest for permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree was issued Monday.
“My message would be: Vicky, you’ve been in this business for 17 years, you’ve seen this scenario play out more than once and you know how it always ends,” Singleton told ABC News Wednesday. “Now go ahead and end it now, get to a phone and call 911, turn yourself in and help us get Casey White back behind bars because you know that’s where he’s going to eventually end up.”
Arrest warrant issued for Alabama corrections officer who allegedly helped inmate escape
Casey White, 38, was awaiting trial for two counts of capital murder for the murder-for-hire stabbing death of 58-year-old Connie Ridgeway, for which he had confessed. He was already serving 75 years in prison for a 2015 multi-state crime spree during which he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s house and began shooting, killing a dog, carjacked a stranger, shot another woman and eventually surrendered after a standoff with police.
Both Vicky and Casey White are considered armed and dangerous, officials said.
Casey White is listed at 6′9″ and 260 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Vicky White is listed at 5′5″ and 160 pounds, with brown eyes and blond or strawberry blond hair.
Anyone who sees either is urged not to approach them but instead call the US Marshals Service’s Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102.
A reward of up to $10,000 has been offered for information leading to Casey White’s capture and a $5,000 reward for information leading to Vicky White’s.
