Authorities Searching For Missing Corrections Officer, Capital Murder Suspect

Authorities are searching for a veteran Alabama corrections officer and an inmate charged with capital murder that disappeared on their way to a courthouse Friday.

The Assistant Director of Corrections, Vicki White, broke protocol when she escorted inmate Casey White from the Lauderdale County Jail. The two are not related. Vicki White coordinates all transportation from the jail to the court and would have been familiar with the protocol. Charged with capital murder, Casey White should have been transported by two sworn deputies.

Officer White told jail officials that she was taking the inmate for an alleged mental health evaluation at the courthouse. Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said they have since learned there was no evaluation scheduled. While leaving the jail, Vicki White also told a guard that she wasn’t feeling well and would seek medical treatment. 

Casey White was never dropped off at court, and Vicki White never sought medical attention. Authorities are now looking into what may have happened. According to Singleton, they believe that Vicki White is in danger, CNN reports.  

“Whether she assisted him or not, we don’t know, and we won’t address that until we have absolute proof that that’s what happened. We are assuming at this point that she was taken against her will unless we can absolutely prove otherwise,” Singleton said.

Vicki White’s patrol car was found in a shopping center Friday morning. Attempts to reach her later that day went straight to voicemail. Jail officials realized that the inmate had not returned from the courthouse. 

Vicki White was armed with a 9mm gun, and according to Singleton, Casey is now considered armed and dangerous. If spotted, he encourages residents to call 911 and not approach him. 

Casey White is charged with the stabbing death of Connie Ridgeway, 58, in her home back in 2015.