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Alabama fugitive arrested, former jailer dies in Evansville following pursuit, police say

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Posted at 3:22 PM, May 09, 2022
and last updated 2022-05-10 12:34:27-04

EVANSVILLE — An escaped Alabama inmate charged with capital murder and a former corrections officer accused of helping him get out of prison was taken into custody after a more than 10-day-long nationwide manhunt.

The search for Casey White and Vicky White came to a close Monday when the pair wrecked a Ford F-150 during a police pursuit that started when they were spotted at a hotel.

Vicky White, who was driving, suffered "very serious" injuries from a gunshot wound while Casey White suffered only minor injuries in the crash, police said during a press conference Monday.

The Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office confirmed with ABC on Monday evening that Vicky White died at Deaconess Hospital at 7:06 p.m. CST.

Lauderdale County, Alabama Sheriff Rick Singleton said investigators received information on Sunday indicating the part was in Evansville. It wasn't clear what exactly they were doing in the area.

"This has ended a very long and stressful and challenging week and a half. It ended the way that we knew it would; they are in custody," Singleton said. "We got a dangerous man off the streets today. He is never going to see the light of day again."

Singleton said no citizens or law enforcement officers were injured at any point.

The two, who are not related despite sharing a last name, are believed to have had a “special relationship” for at least two years before their disappearance nearly two weeks ago.

The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department said Vicky White is charged with facilitating Casey White's escape, as well as forgery and identity theft. Investigators said she used an alias to purchase a getaway vehicle.

Earlier Monday, the U.S. Marshals Service said it was investigating leads connected to the search after a vehicle was reportedly abandoned at a car wash in Evansville "on or around May 3," ABC News reported.

Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding told ABC News the vehicle did not have Indiana license plates, and the Sheriff's Office said that there is currently no evidence to suggest that the vehicle was stolen.

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If purchased, Wedding believes it may have been bought out of state. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals are looking into surveillance video from the car wash and confirmed that it was part of their investigation.

The U.S. Marshals Service said it was notified Sunday night that the vehicle was discovered at a car wash in the 2006 block of Weinbach Avenue.

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CNN reportsU.S. Marshals previously found a 2007 Ford Edge in a tow lot in Williamson County, Tennessee on Thursday. That’s about two hours north of Florence, Alabama, where the two disappeared.

Marshals were able to confirm it was the vehicle linked to the two after police received a tip.

Singleton has said Vicky White visited Casey White — who was awaiting trial on a capital murder case — in prison months before helping him escape and her actions suggested their plan had been in the works for some time.

Singleton said investigators learned Vicky White had visited the inmate in state prison between his stints at their county detention facility.

Provided by WEHT
Provided by WEHT

Singleton said, “We have confirmed that there were visits and that there was communication between the two of them when he was in prison and she was still working here."

The U.S. Marshals Service offered up to $10,000 for information leading to the capture of Casey White and up to $5,000 for the capture of Vicky White. The Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office is offering an additional $5,000 for each.

A warrant was issued May 2 for Vicky Sue White on suspicion of permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree in connection with Casey White's escape.

Authorities said Vicky White sold her home a month ago, and she was supposed to retire on April 29, the day she and Casey White disappeared.