Ever get that feeling when you’re watching a true crime doc and the “normal” person suddenly snaps? Like, one minute they’re bringing donuts to the office, and the next they’re on America’s Most Wanted? That’s Vicky White’s story in a nutshell—except she didn’t just snap. She meticulously planned one of the most jaw-dropping jailbreaks in recent memory.
And I. Am. OBSESSED.
As someone who’s spent countless nights falling down true crime rabbit holes (much to Ryan’s dismay—”Are you STILL reading about that prison lady?”), Vicky White’s case fascinates me because it’s the ultimate example of someone living a double life. By day: respected assistant director of corrections. By night: apparently plotting a prison escape with a 6’9″ murder suspect. Talk about work-life balance!
The “Perfect” Employee (Spoiler Alert: She Wasn’t)
For 17 years, Vicky White worked at the Lauderdale County Detention Center in Alabama, eventually becoming assistant director of corrections. Colleagues described her as an “exemplary employee” with an “unblemished record.” She was the prison’s golden girl—as squeaky clean as those institutional floors after lockdown.
But beneath that professional veneer lurked something else entirely. Something that would make even the most seasoned true crime junkie’s jaw hit the floor.
(I still can’t decide if I’m more shocked by her actions or impressed by her acting skills. The woman deserves a posthumous Emmy for “Best Performance in a Correctional Facility.”)
The Escape Plan That Would Make Shawshank Blush
On April 29, 2022, Vicky told colleagues she was taking inmate Casey White (no relation, but wouldn’t that be a twist?) to a courthouse appointment. Plot twist! There was no appointment. This was day one of their bizarre Bonnie and Clyde adventure.
But this wasn’t some impulsive decision. In the weeks before, Vicky had:
- Sold her house for way below market value (like, criminal discount prices)
- Filed for retirement (effective the day after her disappearance)
- Purchased a getaway car under an alias
- Withdrawn $90,000 from various banks
The level of premeditation here would make most serial killers look spontaneous. She was playing 4D chess while everyone else was playing checkers.
The Unlikely “Romance” That Ended in Tragedy
What drives a 56-year-old corrections officer with a spotless record to throw everything away for a 38-year-old inmate serving 75 years? According to various news reports, they had developed a “special relationship.”
(Translation: They were prison-dating. Which is like regular dating except one person can’t leave and the other person holds all the keys. Healthy!)
The manhunt lasted 11 days and spanned multiple states before ending in Evansville, Indiana. After a car chase that reached speeds of 100 mph (that’s 160 km/h for my metric-loving murder enthusiasts), their vehicle crashed. Casey surrendered, but Vicky suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and later died at a hospital.
Would I have survived this crime? Absolutely not. I can barely keep a surprise party secret for 24 hours, let alone orchestrate a prison break while maintaining my day job.
The Psychology Behind Her Double Life
What makes someone like Vicky White tick? According to criminal psychologists interviewed by The Independent, people who lead double lives often experience a phenomenon called compartmentalization—the ability to separate conflicting aspects of their identity into distinct mental “boxes.”
For 17 years, Vicky kept her professional ethics in one box and her personal desires in another. Until one day, the personal box burst open and consumed everything else.
It’s like when you’re on a diet but keep a secret candy stash (except instead of Snickers, it’s prison escape plans—slightly different caloric impact).
The Warning Signs Everyone Missed
In hindsight, there were red flags that something was off with Vicky White. According to local news coverage, she had been giving Casey special treatment for months—extra food, privileges, and attention that other inmates didn’t receive.
The scary part? No one thought twice about it because she had built up so much trust over nearly two decades. It’s the perfect reminder that sometimes the people you least suspect are the ones planning the getaway car.
The case of Vicky White reminds us that people aren’t always who they seem. Sometimes the person bringing birthday cupcakes to the office is also googling “how to escape prison with inmate” on their lunch break.
And that, my fellow crime junkies, is why I triple-check my doors at night.