Alabama authorities are searching for a corrections officer and inmate who never made it to courtroom

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 are not related.

Authorities said Casey White was being held on capital murder prices and two sworn deputies ought to have been with him at all times, together with throughout transportation to court.

Vicki White coordinates all transports from the detention middle to court and therefore knew the protocol, the sheriff added.

Singleton stated that although Casey White was supposedly being transported for a psychological health analysis on the courthouse, they've since learned that no such analysis or different courtroom hearing for him was scheduled for Friday.

"Understanding the inmate, I feel she's at risk regardless of the circumstances... He was in jail for capital murder, and he had nothing to lose," Singleton mentioned.

Authorities at the moment are taking a look at all potentialities of what occurred, together with if the corrections officer helped Casey White escape.

"Whether or not she assisted him or not, we don't know, and we can't handle that till we have absolute proof that that's what occurred. We are assuming at this level that she was taken in opposition to her will, until we will completely prove in any other case," Singleton added.

Authorities said they are nonetheless searching and investigating any interplay between the corrections officer and Casey White, as well as any telephone calls he had obtained.

When Vicki White escorted Casey White out of the jail, she advised the guard she was going to drop him off at the court docket after which go seek medical consideration because she wasn't feeling effectively.

The sheriff mentioned Casey White was never dropped off at courtroom and Vicki White did not make it to the place the place she mentioned she was going to hunt medical attention.

Authorities didn't notice they have been lacking till a number of hours later.

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

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

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

"All precautions had been in place. The query we've for Director White is why she violated policy," Singleton stated.

Casey White is 6'9" tall is being considered armed and harmful. Vicki White "was armed with a 9 mm handgun, which implies we're assuming he is armed," Singleton added.