Alabama authorities are searching for a corrections officer and inmate who by no means made it to court docket

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 said Casey White was being held on capital murder expenses and two sworn deputies ought to have been with him always, including throughout transportation to courtroom.

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

Singleton said that although Casey White was supposedly being transported for a mental health analysis at the courthouse, they have since realized that no such evaluation or other courtroom hearing for him was scheduled for Friday.

"Knowing the inmate, I believe 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 looking at all prospects of what occurred, together with 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've got absolute proof that that's what occurred. We're assuming at this level that she was taken against her will, unless we can completely show in any other case," Singleton added.

Authorities mentioned they're nonetheless looking out and investigating any interaction between the corrections officer and Casey White, as well as any telephone calls he had received.

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

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

Authorities didn't notice they were missing till a number of hours later.

Her car, a 2013 Ford Taurus patrol automotive, was first noticed in a shopping mall car parking zone round 11 a.m. by somebody who was on a lunch break, Singleton said.

Around 3:30 p.m., officers on the jail have been concerned and tried to achieve her, however her telephone 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 last few months, Singleton added.

"All precautions have been in place. The question we have for Director White is why she violated policy," 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 implies we're assuming he is armed," Singleton added.