Alabama authorities are trying to find a corrections officer and inmate who never made it to court

Missing Assistant Director of Corrections Vicki White broke protocol when she escorted inmate Casey White from jail this morning to apparently take him to the courthouse in Lauderdale County, said Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton. The inmate and the corrections officer aren't related.

Authorities mentioned Casey White was being held on capital homicide fees and two sworn deputies ought to have been with him at all times, including throughout transportation to court.

Vicki White coordinates all transports from the detention heart to courtroom and due to this fact knew the protocol, the sheriff added.

Singleton stated that although Casey White was supposedly being transported for a psychological health evaluation at the courthouse, they have since learned that no such evaluation or different court docket listening to for him was scheduled for Friday.

"Realizing the inmate, I believe she's in danger whatever the circumstances... He was in jail for capital homicide, and he had nothing to lose," Singleton mentioned.

Authorities at the moment are looking at all prospects of what happened, including if the corrections officer helped Casey White escape.

"Whether she assisted him or not, we do not know, and we can't deal with that until we have now absolute proof that that's what happened. We're assuming at this level that she was taken against her will, unless we will completely prove otherwise," Singleton added.

Authorities stated they're still searching and investigating any interplay between the corrections officer and Casey White, as well as any cellphone calls he had acquired.

When Vicki White escorted Casey White out of the jail, she informed the guard she was going to drop him off on the courtroom after which go search medical attention as a result of she wasn't feeling effectively.

The sheriff said Casey White was never dropped off at court docket and Vicki White didn't make it to the place the place she stated she was going to hunt medical attention.

Authorities did not realize they were missing till a number of hours later.

Her vehicle, a 2013 Ford Taurus patrol automotive, was first spotted in a shopping center parking lot around 11 a.m. by someone who was on a lunch break, Singleton mentioned.

Around 3:30 p.m., officers at the jail have been involved and tried to achieve her, however her phone saved going straight to voicemail. They then realized Casey White had not been returned to the jail.

Vicki White has been with the department for 25 years and is eligible for retirement -- which she has talked about doing in the previous few months, Singleton added.

"All precautions were in place. The query we've got for Director White is why she violated coverage," Singleton said.

Casey White is 6'9" tall is being thought of armed and dangerous. Vicki White "was armed with a 9 mm handgun, which means we are assuming he's armed," Singleton added.