Casey White pleads guilty to escape charge in Vicky White case

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. — Casey White is facing 20 years to life in prison for an escape charge after he escaped a detention center in Lauderdale County, Alabama, last year.

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White on Thursday entered a guilty plea related to his escape from the detention center last year, according to WAAY.

White entered his plea in exchange for authorities dropping the felony murder charge in the Vicky White case, WHNT reported.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like that,” White said in court, according to the news outlet. “Things happened…and we was in love.”

White said he met Vicky White while he was awaiting trial in the death of Connie Ridgeway. They had planned to escape and start a new life together, White said. White escaped on April 29, 2022, with Vicky White’s help, WAAY reported.

Law enforcement agencies conducted a manhunt for the pair that lasted 11 days, according to AL.com. White was eventually captured in Indiana. Vicky White reportedly took her own life as police closed in.

White, 39, was charged with murder on May 9, 2022, AL.com reported, because Vicky White’s death happened during the commission of a felony, Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said.

Vicky White was the assistant director of corrections at the Lauderdale County Detention Center, WAAY reported.

White is facing 20 years to life in prison, according to WAAY. He is expected to be sentenced on June 8.

White is also facing a capital murder trial that is expected to start on Aug. 14 in the 2015 death of Ridgeway, AL.com reported.