30 Facts About Casey White Prison Escape

The Background of Casey White and Vicky White

The Casey White prison escape is a tale of meticulous planning, a forbidden romance, and a dramatic manhunt. Let's dive into the key facts that make this story so captivating.

1. Casey White's Background: Casey White, now 41, was already serving a 75-year sentence as of March 2016 for various crimes, including car thefts, home invasions, and multiple shootings.

2. Vicky White's Role: Vicky White, the assistant director of corrections at Lauderdale County Detention Center, was instrumental in the escape. She had worked at the facility for nearly two decades and had won 'Employee of the Year' four times during her tenure.

3. Relationship Between Casey and Vicky: The pair had formed a romantic relationship while Casey was in prison. They had made over 1,000 phone calls to each other over a two-year period, discussing their plans and fantasies about escaping.

The Escape Plan and Execution

The escape plan was nothing short of a Hollywood script. Vicky White's meticulous planning and the couple's determination played a crucial role.

4. Escape Plan: Vicky White planned the escape meticulously. She purchased guns, camping equipment, and a getaway car, an orange Ford Edge, and even sold her home to fund their escape.

5. Escape Day: On April 29, 2022, Vicky White arrived at the Lauderdale County Detention Center and asked a deputy to prepare Casey for transfer to the courthouse for a mental health evaluation. This was a ruse to facilitate their escape.

6. Surveillance Footage: Surveillance footage showed Vicky White leading Casey, handcuffed and in leg shackles, out of the facility. The marked patrol car was later seen pulling into a nearby shopping center parking lot eight minutes later.

7. Getaway Car: The getaway car, a copper-toned 2007 Ford Edge, was found in the same parking lot the night before the escape. Vicky had stayed in a hotel within walking distance of this lot at the Florence Square shopping mall.

The Manhunt Begins

Once the escape was discovered, a massive manhunt ensued, capturing the attention of the nation.

8. Manhunt Begins: Authorities issued an alert to the public and local media outlets, stating that a capital murder suspect and a jailer were missing from the Lauderdale County Detention Center. This marked the beginning of an 11-day manhunt.

9. Investigation: Over the next few days, investigators learned that Vicky had been talking about her retirement and had sold her home for $95,550 on April 18, 2022. Court documents revealed these details as part of the investigation.

10. Reward Offered: The U.S. Marshals announced a reward of up to $10,000 for any information leading to the arrest of missing Lauderdale County inmate Casey Cole White and Sheriff’s Office employee Vicky White.

Tracking the Fugitives

The fugitives used multiple vehicles and traveled through several states, making the manhunt even more challenging.

11. Vehicle Tracking: On May 9, after a quiet couple of days in the investigation, the copper Ford SUV was returned to Lauderdale County for evidence processing. This led to more information about another vehicle used by the escaped inmate and jailer, which eventually led to their capture.

12. Abandoned Vehicle: The pair was tracked to a 2006 Ford F-150 truck abandoned at a car wash in Evansville, Indiana. The owner of the car wash reported seeing a man resembling Casey White get picked up by another car with a driver that looked like Vicky White.

The Capture and Aftermath

The dramatic end to the manhunt saw the fugitives captured, but not without tragedy.

13. Capture: The manhunt culminated in the pair driving their car into a ditch after realizing they were being followed. Vicky shot herself in the head, and Casey was apprehended and returned to Alabama.

14. Vicky White’s Death: Vicky White died from her gunshot wound. The angle of the wound was so odd that it seemed accidental, leading to speculation about whether it was a deliberate act or an accident.

15. Casey White’s Capture: Casey White was pulled from the car and asked if his wife was hurt. He was later taken into custody and returned to Alabama to face charges.

Legal Consequences and Sentencing

The legal ramifications of the escape were severe, especially for Casey White.

16. Charges Against Casey White: Casey White was charged with first-degree prison escape and felony murder for the death of Vicky White. However, he pleaded guilty to first-degree prison escape in exchange for the felony murder charge being dropped.

17. Sentence: Casey White was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He waived his right to an extradition hearing and was transferred back to the state prison in Bessemer, Alabama.

18. Casey White’s History: Casey White had a history of violence, including a standoff with the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office in 2015. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison for burglary, robbery, kidnapping, and attempted murder charges.

The Relationship and Preparations

The relationship between Casey and Vicky White was a key element in the escape, and their preparations were extensive.

19. Confession and Recantation: In 2020, while serving his sentence, Casey White confessed to the 2015 stabbing death of 59-year-old Connie Ridgeway. However, he later recanted his confession and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

20. Physical Description: Casey White is 6 feet 9 inches tall with his body covered in tattoos, some of which are white supremacist symbols. He was 38 years old at the time of the escape.

21. Escape Route: The pair traveled over 200 miles through at least four states during their 11-day escape. They used multiple vehicles and evaded capture for an extended period.

22. Romantic Relationship: Despite the close quarters of the jail, Vicky managed to keep her relationship with Casey hidden from her coworkers and even her parents. The relationship was revealed through phone calls and other evidence.

23. Phone Calls: The pair made over 1,000 phone calls to each other over a two-year period. These calls included discussions about their plans, fantasies, and personal matters. They even indulged in phone sex and argued about Casey using meth while in jail.

24. Preparations: Vicky prepared extensively for the escape. She bought camping equipment, firearms, lingerie, fake IDs, and other items necessary for their escape and subsequent life on the run.

25. Jailhouse Behavior: Casey White would occasionally ask other inmates for the correct spelling of certain words, which made them suspect he was writing to someone else. He also received envelopes from Vicky while she delivered mail to inmates.

26. Dry Run: Vicky took Casey outside the jail on a "dry run" before the actual escape. This was part of their meticulous planning to ensure everything went smoothly on the day of the escape.

Post-Escape Plans and Public Reaction

The aftermath of the escape revealed more about their plans and the public's fascination with the case.

27. Post-Escape Plans: The pair planned to take the money they had, find a trailer, and "stay hunkered down" for a while. They believed they would never really get caught.

28. Investigative Revelations: The Netflix documentary "Jailbreak: Love on the Run" provides detailed insights into the events leading up to the escape. It includes recordings of the phone calls and interviews with former coworkers of Vicky White, reconstructing the events.

29. Public Reaction: The escape and subsequent manhunt captivated the public, with widespread media coverage. The public was fascinated by the romantic relationship between a corrections officer and an inmate, as well as the elaborate escape plan.

30. Legal Consequences: The escape and its aftermath led to significant legal consequences for both Casey and Vicky White. Casey pleaded guilty to first-degree prison escape and was sentenced to life in prison, while Vicky's death led to charges of felony murder against Casey, which were later dropped as part of his plea deal.

The Aftermath of Casey White's Escape

Casey White's prison escape, aided by Vicky White, was a wild ride that gripped the nation. Their 11-day run from the law showcased a mix of meticulous planning, a forbidden romance, and a dramatic end. Vicky, a respected corrections officer, risked everything for love, only to meet a tragic fate. Casey, already a convicted criminal, now faces life in prison without parole. This escape highlighted the vulnerabilities within the prison system and the unpredictable nature of human relationships. The story, filled with twists and turns, serves as a reminder of how far people will go for love and freedom. The public remains fascinated by the details, and the case continues to be a topic of discussion and analysis.