Casey White: Runaway murder suspect has ‘special relationship’ with Alabama prison staff, sheriff’s office says | US News
A murder suspect has a “special relationship” with a prison officer who allegedly helped him escape from a US prison, according to the sheriff’s office.
Casey White, who is awaiting trial on a capitol murder case, disappeared with Vicky White after leaving a detention center in Florence, Alabama, on Friday. The pairs are not related.
Ms. White, 56, told colleagues that the 38-year-old prisoner needed to go to court for a mental health assessment.
Later that afternoon, when she didn’t answer her phone, authorities discovered that no appraisal had been scheduled.
Ms. White’s patrol car was also found abandoned at a shopping mall.
In a statement, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office said: “Investigators received information from inmates at the Lauderdale County Detention Center over the weekend that there was a special relationship between the Superintendent. Governor White and prisoner Casey White.
“That relationship has now been confirmed through our investigation by independent sources and means.”
The office did not give further details about the nature of the relationship.
White is serving a 75-year prison sentence for a range of charges including attempted murder, robbery and burglary.
Authorities say White is facing murder charges for stabbing a 58-year-old woman.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Ms. White on charges of aiding a fugitive.
Family members and colleagues said they were bewildered by the allegations against Ms. White, who worked for the sheriff’s office for 16 years.
Her ex-mother-in-law, Frances White, said: “I can’t picture Vicky running away with that man.
She added that her former daughter-in-law was a kind person and always wanted to help others.