Fears for jail guard in escape mystery

LOS ANGELES: Police in the US have warned of a “serious threat” to the public after a prisoner accused of murder escaped and a guard disappeared with him.

Casey White, who is considered armed and dangerous, was last seen on Friday with Vicky White, a corrections officer, at a jail in Lauderdale County, Alabama.

The guard – who is no relation to the inmate – said she was taking him to a courthouse for a mental health evaluation but the pair never arrived.

Police are investigating if the prisoner took her hostage or if she helped him escape.

“She could have willingly participated,” Rick Singleton, sheriff of Lauderdale County, told CNN. “But we’re also concerned that maybe somehow, someone got to her and coerced

her or threatened her, forced her to assist in this escape. I’m not going to know the answer to that until we locate her.”

The patrol vehicle that she drove was found abandoned at a shopping centre car park about 3km from the jail. Before she disappeared, Ms White complained of feeling unwell and said she planned to get medical attention.

Mr Singleton said Ms White – a widow with no children – was an “exemplary employee” with an “unblemished record” over more than two decades.

“All of her co-workers, all the employees in the sheriff’s office, the judges, all have the utmost respect for her,” he said, adding that she was considered to be in danger.

White, 38, is serving a 75year sentence for crimes including burglary and carjacking. He was accused of murder in 2020 over the stabbing of a 58-year-old man.

He had previously planned an escape by taking a hostage but his attempt was foiled.