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Corrections officer who escaped with inmate has died, sheriff says

May 9, 2022, 4:35 PM | Updated: Jun 16, 2022, 4:03 pm

Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton says surveillance video footage of missing former Alabama ...

Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton says surveillance video footage of missing former Alabama corrections officer Vicky White taken before her getaway with an inmate facing murder charges shows the level of preparation that went into the escape. Photo credit: US Marshals

[Update 9:32 ET]

(CNN) — Former Alabama corrections officer Vicky White has died from injuries after she and escaped inmate Casey White were arrested in Indiana earlier Monday, Sheriff Dave Wedding of Vanderburgh County told CNN.

She was hospitalized earlier with self-inflicted gunshot wounds after being taken into custody following a car chase in Evansville, Indiana, US Marshals previously told CNN. Her wounds were “very serious,” Wedding said at the time.

No law enforcement officers fired shots, according to Sheriff Rick Singleton of Lauderdale County, Alabama, where the pair — who are not related — fled on April 29.

Before the chase ensued, officers conducting surveillance spotted Vicky White exiting a hotel with a wig on, according to US Marshal Matt Keely. Then, she and Casey White got into a car and drove away.

Authorities continued to watch the pair until a vehicle pursuit began, ending when a US Marshals task force member drove a vehicle into the Cadillac Vicky White was driving. The car wrecked and rolled over, he said.

Officers were able to remove the inmate from the wrecked car, but Vicky White was pinned inside with a gunshot wound to her head, Keely said.

Casey White reportedly told officers, “Ya’ll help my wife, she shot herself in the head and I didn’t do it,” according to Keely. Keely said to their knowledge Casey White and Vicky White are not married.

[Previous update, published at 6:24 p.m. ET]

(CNN) — Alabama fugitive Casey White and corrections officer Vicky White are in custody, and she is hospitalized after shooting herself, authorities said late Monday afternoon.

The pair were taken into custody after a chase in Evansville, Indiana, and their vehicle crashed, officials said.

The US Marshals told CNN that Vicky White’s injury was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

No law enforcement officers fired any shots, according to Lauderdale, Alabama, County Sheriff Rick Singleton.

A tip from the public led to the capture and arrest, he said. The tip came Sunday night, Singleton said.

The pair was located at a hotel and then a vehicle pursuit ensued, he said.

The sheriff said the Whites, who are not related, will be brought back to Alabama for arraignment.

[Previous update, published at 5:40 p.m. ET]

US Marshals have released photos of who they believe is Alabama fugitive Casey White caught on surveillance camera at an Evansville, Indiana, car wash.

This is the first time since White escaped a detention center in Lauderdale County, Alabama, with corrections officer Vicky White that he reportedly has been spotted.

Vicky White was not seen in the photos.

Investigators were notified on Sunday night that a 2006 Ford F-150 had been discovered at a car wash in Evansville, about 175 miles north of Williamson County, Tennessee, where the 2007 Ford Edge the pair had been traveling in was found abandoned.

The owner provided the images from a security camera, the US Marshals service said in a release.

Marshals are now in Indiana “following up on a tip after a vehicle believed to have been used by the two fugitives from Alabama was found abandoned in the area,” the agency said.

Casey White, who is facing murder charges, is considered to be dangerous and armed, the US Marshals Service said last week. A reward of up to $15,000 is being offered for information leading to his capture, and $10,000 for information leading to Vicky White’s capture.

New charges against Vicky White

In Alabama, new charges were filed against Vicky White in relation to Casey White’s escape, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.

The allegations stem from her using an alias to purchase the vehicle used in the escape, a 2007 Ford Edge, officials said. The warrant shows Vicky White is wanted on charges of forgery and identity theft.

Vicky White, who was an assistant director of corrections for Lauderdale County, took Casey White from the county jail on April 29, saying she was taking him for a mental health evaluation, which authorities learned later had never been scheduled. She then said she was going to get medical care after dropping the inmate off because she wasn’t feeling well.

Vicky White’s use of aliases may be complicating the search for the two, Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said Monday.

“If she was using her own identity, that would make it fairly easy for us to maybe find her,” Singleton told CNN’s Bianna Golodryga. “We do know she used a false identification to purchase a car here locally.”

“She had two false IDs that we’re aware of, and I wouldn’t be shocked if she had additional or new ones now,” the sheriff said.

Video footage shows the escape was well-prepared, sheriff says

Surveillance video footage of Vicky White taken before the getaway shows the level of preparation that went into the escape, Singleton said.

Investigators found footage of White shopping for men’s clothes at a department store and at an “adult store,” Singleton said, adding she “obviously had a change of clothes” for the inmate.

“It just tells us that it was very well planned and calculated,” Singleton said. “Obviously she well-planned this escape down to a T.”

Investigators earlier released video footage showing Vicky White at a Quality Inn in Florence, where she stayed the night before the escape more than a week ago.

The patrol car the officer and inmate took from the jail was found abandoned in a shopping center parking lot. Vicky White’s jail keys, radio and handcuffs were found inside. Authorities believe the pair left the lot in a different vehicle: Vicky White’s 2007 Ford SUV she parked in the lot the night before.

The vehicle was spotted on May 6 at a Tennessee tow lot. The car had been abandoned in the woods without any identifying information on the same day the duo escaped, indicating they drove about two hours north from the jail in Florence to Williamson County, Tennessee.

“We know now where the car is, we know what direction they went,” the sheriff said. “We’re trying to canvass the area for any witnesses, also trying to research, see if any stolen vehicles were reported in that area during that time.”

Authorities believe the vehicle may have had mechanical problems that prompted the abrupt stop in the area.

For now, investigators are in the dark as to where the pair headed after that, the sheriff said Monday.

“We don’t have any information or intel about how they left that area,” Singleton said. “There are all kinds of possibilities. We are looking at every possible scenario we can think of,” the sheriff said when asked if someone could be helping them.

It is possible, given the time the two have been on the run, they are no longer in the country, the sheriff said.

“That’s something we’re also considering and trying to follow up, especially with Mexican and Canadian authorities,” Singleton said.

Vicky White, 56, and Casey White, 38, who are not related, knew each other since at least 2020 and had developed a romantic relationship, the sheriff told CNN earlier this week.

Prior to their disappearance, Vicky White had announced plans to retire and sold her home for a price well below market value.

She now has an active arrest warrant for allegedly permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree. She is no longer employed by the sheriff’s office, the office said, adding while April 29 was her last day of work, her retirement papers were never finalized.

Investigators believe Vicky White had a large amount of money when the pair vanished, Singleton said, adding authorities are working to find out more details.

Vicky White’s mother has been “extremely cooperative” with investigators, Singleton said Monday.

“Like us, she’s at a total loss. She did not know this side of her daughter, obviously, and she’s very distraught,” he said.

Officials share photos and up rewards

The pair may be armed with weapons including an AR-15 rifle, handguns and a shotgun, the US Marshals Service said.

The agency said Casey White threatened his ex-girlfriend and her sister in 2015 if he ever got out, “he would kill them and he wanted police to kill him.” Authorities have warned the inmate’s “potential targets” and taken measures to protect them, the Marshals Service said.

Investigators are also concerned Casey White may not be taking medication for “controlling temper and those kinds of things,” Singleton said Monday.

“He has some issues that he’s on medication for, and when he’s off his meds, I’m told he can be extremely violent,” Singleton said.

The service also released several photos of Casey White and his tattoos as well as photo renderings of what Vicky White, who was blonde when she vanished, would look like with darker and shorter hair.

The agency is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the capture of the inmate and up to $5,000 for the former officer. On Friday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced additional rewards of $5,000 each for information leading to the capture and arrest of Vicky White and Casey White.

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Corrections officer who escaped with inmate has died, sheriff says