Alabama authorities are trying to find 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, stated Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton. The inmate and the corrections officer aren't related.

Authorities mentioned Casey White was being held on capital murder charges and two sworn deputies ought to have been with him always, including throughout transportation to court docket.

Vicki White coordinates all transports from the detention middle to court docket and due to this fact knew the protocol, the sheriff added.

Singleton stated that though Casey White was supposedly being transported for a psychological health analysis on the courthouse, they've since discovered that no such evaluation or different courtroom listening to for him was scheduled for Friday.

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

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

"Whether or not she assisted him or not, we do not know, and we cannot handle that until we have absolute proof that that is what happened. We are assuming at this level that she was taken against her will, until we are able to completely show in any other case," Singleton added.

Authorities said they're nonetheless searching and investigating any interaction between the corrections officer and Casey White, as well as any phone calls he had obtained.

When Vicki White escorted Casey White out of the jail, she informed the guard she was going to drop him off at the court docket after which go search medical attention because she wasn't feeling well.

The sheriff stated Casey White was by no means dropped off at courtroom and Vicki White did not make it to the place the place she said she was going to seek medical attention.

Authorities did not realize they had been lacking till a number of hours later.

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

Round 3:30 p.m., officers at the jail were concerned and tried to reach her, but her cellphone stored 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 couple of months, Singleton added.

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

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