The FBI and officials in Alabama are conducting a search for a corrections officer and an inmate who disappeared Friday after taking off in a fake transport.
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Assistant Director of Corrections Vicki White and inmate Casey Cole White went missing together during a courthouse transfer on Friday. Officials said in a statement that they are trying to figure out if White was taken against her will or if she willingly planned to help the inmate escape before his court appearance. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office said the pair are not related.
“AD White left the detention center with the inmate at approximately 9:30 a.m. this morning on their way to the courthouse. They have not been seen since. Casey White is being held on capital murder charges. If anyone should spot them contact 911 immediately and DO NOT APPROACH!” the statement reads.
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Officials also said the transport vehicle was abandoned at a local shopping center parking lot. Additionally, they didn’t realize that the correction officer and inmate were missing until 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.
“Investigators are currently attempting to locate any video that may tell us more about what we’re dealing with,”
Lauderdale County D.A. Chris Connelly said in a statement that the FBI is now involved in the search. He called the situation “dangerous” since Casey White is no longer in custody and officials believe the corrections officer was taken against her will.
Casey White was charged for the 2015 murder of Connie Jane Ridgeway,59, at her home in Rogersville. He wasn’t charged for the murder until 2020. Previously in 2019, he was found guilty of nine charges involving carjacking. multiple shootings, and a home invasion.
Ridgeway’s husband also urged the public to aid in the search on his Facebook page.
“ATTENTION!!!! All of my Facebook peeps. I know I’m a goofball smartass but this is serious and i need all of yall to help the best you can. This is the peace of trash that shot my wife back in 2015 he escaped this morning with the help of this woman they believe. If yall would kindly share this and if by some chance anyone sees them or shares this and it helps get them brought back in i‘d be mighty grateful. His name is Casey Cole White. Hers is Vicki White “no relation to one another”. -Snapp”
Casey White was serving a 75-year sentence for the 2019 crime spree and he was also accused of plotting a prison escape in 2020.
So far no new information has been revealed but officials from state and local police are still conducting the investigation.