A reward is now being offered amid the ongoing search for an escaped Alabama inmate and a “missing and endangered” corrections officer, the U.S. Marshals Service announced this weekend.
Per the Associated Press, 38-year-old Casey Cole White left the Lauderdale County Detention Center last Friday with officer Vicky White, who also serves as the facility’s assistant director of corrections. The two, who are not related, were expected to go to a nearby courthouse but have since vanished.
In September 2020, Casey was charged with capital murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of 58-year-old Connie Ridgeway. He was also already serving time in connection with a “2015 crime spree” including carjacking, home invasion, and more. Per the Marshals, White confessed to the murder in question and was still awaiting trial at the time of his disappearance.
In an initial Facebook post shared Friday, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office said the two left the detention center for the courthouse at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time.
“The vehicle the two left the detention center in has been located in the parking lot of a local shopping center,” an office rep said at the time. “Investigators are currently attempting to locate any video that may tell us more about what we’re dealing with. The fact that the two are missing was not realized until approximately 3:30 p.m. this date.”
Addressing the ongoing search in a news release distributed on Sunday, the U.S. Marshals Service—which has now taken on the case—said a reward of up to $10,000 was being offered in connection with information leading to the capital murder suspect’s capture.
“Casey White is believed to be a serious threat to the corrections officer and the public,” U.S. Marshal Marty Keely said.
Noted in this weekend’s Associated Press report is that Vicky having been alone with the inmate marked a violation of department policy. The given reason for the courthouse transport was a mental health evaluation. However, according to Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton, no such evaluation was on the books. One day prior to going missing, Vicky—who had been on the detention center’s staff for 16 years—reportedly turned in retirement-related paperwork.
