Casey White prison escape and death of Vicky White

On April 29, 2022, Vicky White, the assistant director of corrections at the Lauderdale County Jail in Florence, Alabama, escorted inmate Casey White from the detention center under the pretext of taking him to a scheduled mental health evaluation at the county courthouse. Casey White, who was awaiting trial on capital murder charges related to the 2015 stabbing death of Connie Ridgeway and was already serving a 75-year sentence for a 2015 crime spree, never returned to custody. Surveillance video captured Casey in handcuffs and leg shackles being placed in a patrol vehicle. Deputies grew suspicious after checking the courthouse schedule and finding no hearings or evaluations listed for that day, and after learning that inmates being transported to court are normally accompanied by two deputies rather than one.

Investigators later determined that Vicky White had sold her property well below its assessed value shortly before the escape, had purchased firearms, men's clothing, and vehicles, and had given Casey White special treatment and privileges during his incarceration. Authorities said this treatment developed into a romantic relationship that may have begun in 2020. Vicky White had been set to retire the day of the escape but had not finalized her retirement paperwork. She was terminated from her position, and arrest warrants were issued for her on May 2 and May 6, 2022.

The search for the pair expanded from a statewide to a nationwide manhunt. Investigators traced the couple's movements through an abandoned getaway vehicle in Tennessee, a pickup truck, and multiple motel stays, with Vicky White altering her appearance using a dark wig. On May 9, 2022, authorities in Evansville, Indiana, identified the pair via surveillance footage and located them at a motel. A police chase followed on US Highway 41, ending when a police vehicle caused their car to crash into a ditch. Casey White surrendered without incident. Vicky White suffered a gunshot wound to the head; she was taken to a hospital and died from her injuries. The Vanderburgh County coroner ruled her death a suicide.

Casey White was returned to Alabama after waiving extradition proceedings. He was initially charged with felony murder under Alabama's felony murder rule in connection with Vicky White's death, based on the theory that her death occurred during the commission of the escape. In May 2023, Casey White entered a plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to first-degree prison escape, and in exchange the felony murder charge related to Vicky White's death was dropped. Vicky White was buried at Center Hill Cemetery in Lexington, Alabama, on May 14, 2022; approximately 200 people attended her funeral.