After an 11-day manhunt involving multiple agencies, the bizarre story of a prison romance, a planned escape with the help of a guard, a high-speed chase and a suicide has come to an end.
Nine-one-one audio published by the New York Post apparently captured the final words of former prison guard Vicky White who told fugitive Casey White they should “get out and run” from their flipped car as officers approached.
Audio published by NewsNation notes Vicky shouting as sirens blare in the background, “Airbags are going off! Let’s get out and run!”
A shot rings out a few moments later as officers close in. CBS News reported the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Vicky died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Listen:
Police recently released dashcam video that captures Casey White’s arrest. In addition to being an escaped inmate, White, 38, is also a capital murder suspect.
The wild police chase ended when police bumped White’s car, causing it to lose control and flip on its side. Reportedly, Vicky was still breathing and holding the gun when officers arrived at the vehicle.
“She still has the gun in her hands,” one officer shouts. “Finger’s on the trigger.”
The officer adds: “I’m going to go for the gun first.”
Deputy Marshal Chad Hunt, commander of the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, said Casey quickly surrendered.
Hunt told reporters that Casey’s first “words to our team was, ‘Please help my wife. She just shot herself in the head.’” Hunt clarified that authorities note there is no evidence the two were ever married.
A national search and high publicity campaign followed Casey and Vicky White’s escape from Lauderdale County jail on April 29. Evansville Police Detective Darren Richardson helped bring the 11-day saga to a close.
Richardson told 44News he received a tip that the two were spotted driving a Cadillac:
“After I got that information, I started checking around local hotels. Some of the places I thought they might be staying [but] I wasn’t able to locate them.”
But as Richardson was driving home after his shift, he noticed a Cadillac matching the description:
“I happened to look over and I saw a Cadillac that matched the description of what the fugitives [were driving]” and alerted the U.S. Marshals Service.
Richardson reports that Marshals “asked me if I could get the license plate. So, I turned back around, swung through the parking lot, and got him the license plate for the vehicle.”
Richardson told 44News that he was surprised to share in their capture and glad to aid in bringing the saga to a close:
“[I was surprised] to find out they were here in Evansville. And to bring closure to the family down in Alabama and just to know the two people we were looking for are now off the streets.”
Authorities report finding $29,000 in cash in the trunk of the Cadillac the Whites were driving.
On Tuesday night, Casey was reportedly brought back to Alabama for his first court appearance.
CNN reports that at the arraignment, Judge Ben Graves told Casey he would be charged with first-degree escape, in addition to the capital murder charge he was already facing in connection with the 2015 death of Connie Ridgeway.
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