Now that the search has entered its seventh day, authorities are investigating “promising” potential customers and the advice they’ve received from “all over the place,” Singleton said on Thursday. Fourth on CNN’s “Don Lemon Tonight”.
“I can tell you we’ve had many reports of sightings from Florida all the way to Kentucky, though not all of them were consequential: In one example, a woman,” Singleton said. went into a convenience store and gave a clerk a note that said, “I’m Vicky White, I’ve been kidnapped, help me,” Singleton said. But in reality, she’s not Vicky White.
In the days since their disappearance, investigators have determined the officer and the prisoner had a “special relationship” in which Vicky White enjoyed inmate privileges, including eat more. Singleton said the investigation was supported in part by inmates who informed officials of the relationship over the weekend.
“Obviously a lot of planning went into this,” Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly told CNN “New Day” on Thursday.
Relatives and colleagues said they were shocked by the sudden disappearance of the corrections officer, who Singleton described as a “model employee” with “a track record of no trace”.
Vicky White has a warrant for her arrest on charges of permitting or facilitating a first-degree escape. She also no longer works for the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office in a statement Wednesday. Although Friday was her last day of work, her paperwork was never finalized, the office said.
The sheriff said the relationship started in 2020
Investigators traced the relationship back to early 2020, when Casey White was brought to Lauderdale County for a murder investigation he was facing in the 2015 death of 58-year-old Connie Ridgeway. according to the sheriff.
“As far as we know, it was the earliest physical contact they had,” Singleton said.
Casey White was returned to state prison after being placed on a 75-year sentence for a series of crimes he committed in 2015. The sheriff said the officer and inmate Maintain contact by phone. He had previously said that Vicky White had visited Casey White while he was in prison – but said Thursday that was incorrect.
Casey White was returned to the Lauderdale County Jail in February to attend trials related to her murder charges.
During the investigation this week, inmates said that Casey White “is getting more food on her tray” and “enjoying privileges that no one else has. And this all comes from her.” , Singleton said.
“Several inmates here in our facility sent messages to our investigators that there was a relationship between the two,” Singleton told CNN. “We’ve looked at their claims, what they say, tracked it, and we’ve confirmed that there is, in fact, a relationship there.”
The district attorney expressed skepticism on Thursday at the idea that Vicky White would have an affair with the inmate.
“I never would have thought of that in a million years,” he told CNN, adding that it was “a huge shock when she got into this, and it was amazing.”
Connolly, who has known Vicky White for many years, describes her as a dependable person and a “steadfast employee.” If something needs to be done in court, for example, Vicky White is the person they can call, Connolly said.
“She’s a longtime trusted employee at our prison and she’s just exploiting the system,” he said, “and actually abusing the trust and credibility she’s earned. over the years as a great employee.”
Video recording the quick exit scene
The facility has a policy that requires two sworn deputies to accompany inmates at all times, including during transportation to court. Singleton said that policy was emphasized to Casey White after authorities discovered he was plotting to escape custody and take hostage in 2020 and discovered a makeshift knife on him. .
But last Friday, Vicky White asked an officer to prepare transportation for Casey White, saying she would take him to court herself because other officers had left the court and she was the only officer with a certified firearm, Singleton said.
Surveillance video shows Casey White, shackled and handcuffed in an orange jumpsuit, being escorted to the back of Vicky White’s patrol car on Friday morning.
The investigation found that the couple then drove to a shopping center parking lot less than 10 minutes away, left their patrol car in the parking lot, and escaped in a yellow or bronze 2007 Ford Edge SUV with Slight damage to the left rear bumper, authorities said.
“We know there was never any attempt to get to the courthouse. They went straight to the parking lot of Florence Square, dumped their patrol car, got into another car and left,” Singleton said.
Investigation is reset by giving a lead
In the lead up to their run, Singleton said, Vicky White bought the SUV in Rogersville, about 25 miles east of Lauderdale County. The night before she disappeared with Casey White, the officer parked his car in the mall parking lot. The couple drove to the parking lot the next day and fled in the SUV.
When investigators were finally able to confirm the description of the getaway vehicle Monday, they planned to send it internally to other law enforcement agencies, but the lead vehicle was accidentally released. generous father.
“The description of the vehicle is something we’ve been working hard on all weekend because we don’t know what kind of vehicle they left behind,” Singleton told CNN’s Don Lemon on Wednesday night. “We gave the information to law enforcement for tracking, and accidentally one of those agencies submitted a public description. That really took us back.”
Singleton said the pair likely abandoned the car because the description was being shared widely.
Wherever he was, Connolly hoped Vicky White would return safely.
“I think she’s in danger,” he said when asked what message he was sending her. “So I would say: Let’s go home.”
Singleton made a similar plea Wednesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“Vicky, you’ve been in this business for 17 years, you’ve seen this scenario play out many times and you know how it always ends,” he said.
“Go ahead and end it now. Pick up the phone, call 911, do yourself a favor and help us get Casey White back behind bars because you know that’s where he’s going to end up.”
Adjusted: Due to incorrect information from the sheriff, an earlier version of this story incorrectly described Vicky White’s interactions with Casey White while he was in the state prison. They were in contact by phone, but Vicky White did not visit Casey White in prison, according to a statement from Sheriff Rick Singleton.
CNN’s Michelle Watson, Jamiel Lynch, Chuck Johnston, Amara Walker, Jade Gordon, Ryan Young, Jaide Timm-Garcia, Tina Burnside
