Jailbreak love story ends in tragedy

WASHINGTON: A bizarre drama that riveted America has ended in tragedy as a female prison guard arrested with a fugitive convict she allegedly helped to escape died after shooting herself as police moved in to nab them in the climax of a 10-day manhunt.

Vicky White and Casey White (pictured), who were not related, were arrested in Evansville, Indiana, after crashing their car into a ditch as police acting on a tip were in hot pursuit.

Vicky White, 56 and described as romantically involved with the fugitive prisoner, shot herself, said Vanderburgh County sheriff Dave Wedding. The county coroner’s office later confirmed her death.

White the prisoner, 38, sustained minor injuries in the arrest. “We got a dangerous man off the street today. He is never going to see the light of day again,” said Rick Singleton, the sheriff of Lauderdale County in Alabama, home to the scene of the original jailbreak.

White has had numerous run-ins with the law, and has been sentenced to 75 years imprisonment for kidnapping, burglary and attempted murder, among other crimes.

No shots were fired by law enforcement officers, and no police or bystanders were hurt.

The arrest was made thanks to a tip after the couple were spotted at a hotel, Mr Singleton said. “It ended the way we knew it would.”

Chris Swecker, a former FBI assistant director, said it was a case of someone “looking for love in the wrong places”. “You have this guard falling in love with a prisoner who probably groomed her over a period of time to collude with her on this escape,” he said.

Vicky White, an Alabama prison guard with a spotless record, was suspected of helping long-time criminal Casey White escape custody April 29 on her last day of work.