AN accused murderer who is on the run after busting out of jail with the help of a female guard previously plotted another escape in 2020 and is “incredibly dangerous”, the son of his alleged victim says.
Capital murder suspect Casey White, 38, and corrections officer Vicki White, 56, are both being sought by police after they vanished from Alabama’s Lauderdale County Detention Center on Friday.
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The pair, who are not related, left the jail at 9.14am with Vicki telling her colleagues she was escorting White to a mental evaluation at a nearby courthouse, though no such appointment had been scheduled.
A warrant was issued for Vicki White’s arrest on Monday afternoon on charges of permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree, Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said.
Singleton told reporters that while it’s clear Vicki “participated” in Casey White’s escape, it’s unclear whether she did so willingly or not.
This is not the first time Casey White has attempted to escape from custody.
He attempted to break out of the same jail in October 2020 shortly after confessing to the cold case murder of Connie Ridgeway, a 58-year-old mom of two who was stabbed to death during a home invasion in 2015.
After requesting if he could stay at the jail instead of being transferred back to prison, White reportedly made two makeshift knives – or “shivs” – in a shower and planned to take a hostage in order to aid his escape from the facility.
However, the plan was foiled by correctional officers. The prison then established a policy mandating two sworn deputies accompany him at all times, including during transportation to the courthouse.
White is still yet to face trial for the murder of Ridgeway. Despite his earlier confession, he later entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
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‘A VERY DANGEROUS GUY’
Ridgeway’s son, Austin Williams, told The US Sun that he was “shocked” and concerned to learn of Casey White’s escape when he was contacted by authorities late last week.
“It’s really hard to describe how I feel,” said Austin. “I really didn’t know how to react when they told me I was just so shocked.
“It’s hard to comprehend that something like this is even possible. It completely blows my mind.”
Citing Casey White’s “violent history”, Austin, who lives in Tennessee, said he is in fear for his own safety as well as the safety of the general public while the suspected killer remains at large.
“Oh he’s a very dangerous person and anyone who gets into contact with them needs to call 911 right away,” Austin said.
“He’s so dangerous. This is a six-foot-nine, 250-pound man who broke into a woman’s apartment and stabbed her to death,” he alleged.
“That is a very dangerous guy and that means anyone who crosses his path is in a huge amount of danger.
“I no doubt fear for their safety,” he added. “He’s a very violent person and there’s no limit to what he might do.”
VICTIM’S PLEA
Seeing Casey White’s name plastered all over the news and across social media has reopened a number of old wounds for Austin and his family, he said.
The 42-year-old voiced his hope that Casey White is quickly apprehended and placed back behind bars so he can finally face trial for the murder of his mother.
“It’s all very shocking and frustrating,” he said. “You think you have the guy and he’s finally going to trial and then all of a sudden he gets out and someone who is meant to keep him inside actually helps him get out.
“We want to see him back behind bars as soon as possible so we can learn the motive behind why he killed my mom.
“She was such a nice, gentle soul. And I still don’t understand how somebody could do such a thing to her.”
Once recaptured, Austin suggested that Casey should be placed in a maximum-security facility under the highest level of surveillance possible until “he’s not here anymore.”
The bereaved son also called for Vicki White to face charges, adding: “It blows my mind that someone who is familiar with Casey White and his record would risk anything with him because he is just such a dangerous person.
Speaking directly to the pair, Austin pleaded: “Please just give yourselves out before anyone else gets hurt.
“No one else has to get hurt. It’s not too late for you to turn yourselves in and come back in safely.”
MYSTERY SURROUNDS JAILBREAK
Law enforcement is still investigating the circumstances surrounding Casey White’s escape while a manhunt for him and Vicki White continues.
In an appearance Monday on CNN, Singleton said authorities have not uncovered any evidence to suggest Vicki White was kidnapped or forced into helping Casey White escape though for now they’re keeping an open mind as to what may have happened.
“She’s certainly an accomplice,” the sheriff said. “It’s obvious from the evidence we have gathered that this was not – that he didn’t kidnap her or force her or anything as far as in the car once they left the facility.”
Casey White, who was serving a 75-year sentence for kidnapping and attempted murder charges when he vanished, should be considered armed and dangerous, according to police.
Vicki White may also be armed, having vanished carrying a 9mm pistol, investigators say.
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Vicky White said she was taking Casey White for a mental health evaluation when she checked him out of jail on Friday morning.
She also told her colleagues she was going to seek medical care after dropping the inmate off because she was feeling under the weather.
The US Marshals Office confirms White was handcuffed and shackled when he and Vicki left the jail Friday morning, but she violated protocol by leaving the facility with White alone.
Police later discovered that the pair never arrived at the courthouse and no such evaluation had even been scheduled for Casey White.
‘EXEMPLARY EMPLOYEE’
Later that afternoon, officials at the jail attempted to reach White by phone but it rang straight through to voicemail. Authorities then learned that Casey White had not returned to the jail sometime around 3.30pm.
Vicki White’s patrol car was found abandoned in the parking lot of a local shopping center shortly after.
On Monday, Sheriff Singleton, who previously called Vicki an “exemplary employee” for 16 years, said she “participated” in the escape, but they’re unsure if she did it willingly or was forced.
Singleton said Vicki talked about retiring for three or four months and even sold her home about a month ago and spoke about moving to the beach.
The sheriff said that Vicki submitted her retirement papers last week after two decades with the department.
“Everybody thought she was going to retire. Nobody saw this coming,” the sheriff said on Monday.
Singleton said Vicki is definitely in danger, willingly or not.
“This guy’s no one to mess with. He’s 6-foot-9, weighs somewhere around 250 pounds. … We’re assuming he’s armed because she was armed,” he said.
FORBIDDEN LOVE?
Authorities are also investigating whether or not Vicki White and Casey White were romantically involved.
As the county’s assistant director of corrections, Vicki “was frequently throughout the cell blocks, has contact with all the inmates at one time or another,” Singleton told CNN.
“But as far as a romantic relationship or something like that, we have no evidence or proof that that was the case, although it’s a possibility.”
The US Marshals Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the inmate and the location of the “missing and endangered” corrections officer.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are also involved in the investigation.
Anyone with information on White’s location or Assistant Director of Corrections White’s disappearance is urged to contact law enforcement, a release from the US Marshals Service said.
“You shouldn’t try to approach either one of these individuals because we consider both of them dangerous, and in all probability, both individuals are armed,” US Marshal Marty Keely said in separate remarks.
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