The Netflix documentary Jailbreak: Love on the Run was released on September 25. It tells the story of how Vicky White, a trusted prison officer, helped a dangerous inmate, Casey White, escape. What started as a regular day on April 29, 2022, became a full-blown chase. The escape and the tragic ending captured the public’s attention. How did it all go down? Let’s dive into the details.
The story of Casey and Vicky White is one of the most bizarre and tragic in recent history. Their escape, love story, and the resulting manhunt captivated the world. While Vicky’s motivations may never be fully understood, her actions serve as a reminder that sometimes, even those who seem the most put-together can be hiding deep personal struggles.
Casey White was no stranger to crime. He was waiting for trial in a capital murder case. He was considered very dangerous and had been moved to the Lauderdale County Detention Center in August 2020. He was already serving a 75-year sentence for previous crimes.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Jailbreak: Love on the Run. Reader discretion is advised.
Why was Casey White in prison in Jailbreak: Love on the Run?
In 2015, Casey allegedly confessed to stabbing a 59-year-old woman named Connie Ridgeway to death, leading to two capital murder charges. However, he later took back his confession and pleaded not guilty, claiming insanity.
Casey had been a criminal for over ten years, with many convictions. In one of his worst crimes, he attacked his brother with an axe-sledgehammer in 2012 and was sentenced to three years in prison. To those who knew him in jail, he could be charming, but they also said he could turn scary, especially when on drugs.
How did Casey White escape from prison in Jailbreak: Love on the Run?
Vicky was not the type of person anyone expected to break the law. She had a stable career, earning respect and recognition over the years. But outside of work, her life was marked by sadness as she had gone through a divorce and lost two people she loved.
Vicky's co-workers noticed that she had been drinking more and seemed to be looking for something more in her life. Her loneliness made her go towards Casey more because Casey gave her attention and the love she craved.
It all started in jail. In 2021, Vicky mentioned to co-workers that she was dating a younger man but didn’t share much about it. Soon after, rumors of her relationship with Casey started to spread. Inmates noticed Casey handing her letters with no addresses, and Vicky was even known to give Casey extra yard time so they could be alone.
On April 29, 2022, Vicky set her escape plan in motion. She told her co-workers she was taking Casey for a mental health evaluation, but that was just a cover story. There was no such appointment. Vicky had sold her house and bought an orange getaway car in preparation for this day. The two left the jail together and disappeared before anyone could catch on.
At first, no one suspected Vicky of being involved in the escape. She had always been reliable, so some believed Casey had kidnapped her. However, as more evidence came out, like security footage of them leaving together and phone calls between them, it became apparent that Vicky was a willing participant in the escape.
Vicky and Casey managed to stay on the run for 11 days. The first clue police found was the orange getaway car, discovered abandoned at a tow yard a week later. From there, investigators learned they had purchased a truck and tracked them to Evansville, Indiana, over 175 miles from the jail.
How did Casey and Vicky get caught?
Surveillance footage showed Casey getting into a Cadillac in Evansville, and police traced them to a nearby motel. After staking out the area, law enforcement prepared to arrest them. But before they could act, Vicky and Casey fled once again. A high-speed car chase followed, and the couple’s car crashed into a ditch.
When the car crashed, the airbags deployed, and what happened next shocked everyone. Vicky shot herself as the police closed in. She was taken to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries. Casey surrendered to the police without a fight, asking them to
"please check on my wife"
even though they weren’t legally married.
After Vicky’s death, Casey was sent back to prison. The public was left shocked by how a trusted officer could fall in love with a dangerous criminal and throw her entire life away. The documentary gives a deeper look into the mystery, but many questions about Vicky’s motivations remain unanswered.