Arrest warrant issued for US jail official, who went missing with murder suspect
- Vicky White is accused of helping inmate Casey Cole White escape from an Alabama prison
- A hunt is on for the duo, who authorities say are probably armed and should be considered dangerous
Authorities issued an arrest warrant on Monday for a jail official who they say helped an inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge to escape from an Alabama jail. A search was on for the pair.
Inmate Casey Cole White, 38, was shackled and handcuffed when he and Vicky White, the facility’s assistant director of corrections, left the Lauderdale County Detention Centre in Florence, Alabama, on Friday morning.
They have not been seen since, although the patrol vehicle that the pair used when leaving the detention centre was found at a nearby shopping centre car park after their absence was discovered.
Authorities have no idea where they are, although the inmate should be recognisable by his size. He stands 2.06 metres (6 feet, 9 inches) tall and weighs about 118kg (260 pounds). Authorities warned that anyone seeing the pair should not approach them.
“We consider both of them dangerous and in all probability, both individuals are armed,” US Marshal Marty Keely said at a press conference on Monday. He noted that Casey White “will stand out” because of his size even if he has changed his appearance.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said Monday that they had issued an arrest warrant for Vicky White on charges of permitting or allowing an escape. She is not related to White.
She violated a policy that required more than one official to be involved in transporting him, according to Singleton. The policy was put in place when White was jailed two years ago and authorities believed he was planning to escape.