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

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, mentioned Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton. The inmate and the corrections officer usually are not associated.

Authorities mentioned Casey White was being held on capital homicide charges 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 docket and therefore knew the protocol, the sheriff added.

Singleton said that though Casey White was supposedly being transported for a psychological well being evaluation at the courthouse, they've since realized that no such evaluation or different court docket listening to for him was scheduled for Friday.

"Realizing the inmate, I think she's in danger whatever the circumstances... He was in jail for capital homicide, and he had nothing to lose," Singleton mentioned.

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

"Whether she assisted him or not, we don't know, and we won't deal with that until we now have absolute proof that that is what occurred. We're assuming at this level that she was taken in opposition to her will, except we are able to absolutely show otherwise," Singleton added.

Authorities mentioned they are still looking out and investigating any interplay between the corrections officer and Casey White, in addition to any phone calls he had acquired.

When Vicki White escorted Casey White out of the jail, she informed the guard she was going to drop him off on the court docket and then go search medical consideration because she wasn't feeling properly.

The sheriff said Casey White was by no means dropped off at courtroom and Vicki White didn't make it to the place the place she mentioned she was going to seek medical consideration.

Authorities did not realize they have been missing till several hours later.

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

Round 3:30 p.m., officers at the jail have been concerned and tried to achieve her, however her phone saved 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 had been in place. The question now we have for Director White is why she violated policy," Singleton mentioned.

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