A 10-day manhunt ends in the death of prison guard Vicky White. Prisoner Casey White and Vicky White, who were not related nor married, were romantically involved. ­­The couple crashed their car into a ditch, as police were in pursuit.

      Both Vicky and Casey left Lauderdale County Jail on April 29, at 9:31 a.m. Ms. White, 56, told her department she would be transporting Mr. White, 38, to a mental health evaluation, and they did not question her. Investigators had not realized their disappearance until 3:30 p.m., after calling Vicky White’s phone repeatedly. The couple bought a Ford F-150 in around $90,000 in cash (from selling her house) to help them with the escape after ditching the police vehicle, which White the officer had pulled out of banks. The truck was left at the car wash and switched to a gray Cadillac.

     Casey White had tried to break out of the facility before in 2020 but officers caught him. White was in jail for multiple offenses, like attempted murder, kidnapping, and burglary. He was jailed on a charge in the death of Connie Ridgeway. He had confessed for the murder and was awaiting trial before disappearing.

     Emily, senior, shares her view on the situation, “love makes you do crazy things. It’s definitely very complicated.” 

     It was the Cadillac that officers spotted, about 270 miles away from the Lauderdale jail. Vicky was donning a wig, according to Chad Hunt of the US marshals service, which helps agencies catch fugitives. The couple was spotted at a hotel in Evansville. They had been carrying semi-automatic weapons, and four handguns, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding said.      

     Police then chased Ms. and Mrs. White, before the Cadillac crashed. Both Casey and Vicky White were not hurt from the accident, and Casey surrendered immediately. He says, “Please help my wife – she just shot herself in the head.” Vicky was then taken to a hospital for her head wound, but died shortly after, local coroner Steve Lockyear explains. The manhunt lasted longer than a week. 

     Megan Mannlein, senior, shares her view on the story. “It is saddening the prison guard did not know better and there was probably manipulation involved,” she further explains, “it’s upsetting because she gambled her job and respect and then her life. This could have easily all been avoided but because of her actions, he is back in custody (and likely with a longer sentence) and she is now dead.”