Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton says a tip from the public led investigators to a description of the vehicle one of his corrections officers used last week to escape with a suspected murderer.

Assistant Director of Corrections Vicky White bought the used Ford Edge last week, Singleton said, and investigators believe she and Casey Cole White swapped her patrol car for that vehicle just minutes after they left the county jail together Friday morning, WAAY reported.

The Edge, the sheriff said, was spotted Thursday in the same parking lot where Vicky White’s patrol car was found on Friday. But, he said, they’ve likely abandoned the Edge now too.

“That was a key tip for us,” he said. “Unfortunately because that information got out prematurely, now we’re probably back to square one. I tell people ask me if you were one of them and you knew that vehicle description was out there what would you do? We’re assuming they’re going to get rid of that vehicle now and we’re back to square one.”

A warrant has been issued for Vicky White, 56, charging her with permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree in connection with capital murder suspect Casey White’s escape from jail: https://t.co/9Lx6DHM6PC pic.twitter.com/hULhU1g1QR

— U.S. Marshals (@USMarshalsHQ) May 3, 2022

Singleton also expanded on the “special relationship” he said Vicky White and Casey White, who are not related, had.

“We don’t have any evidence of any physical relationship,” he said. “What I mean by special relationship is, we got information from some of the inmates over the weekend, that they had a relationship. What they were talking about was he had extra food on his trays. He was getting special privileges. She was doing special things for him that other inmates didn’t get. That he was getting treated special.”

The sheriff said the two first met in 2020 when Casey White was brought to the Lauderdale County jail to answer murder charges. The pair continued their communication after he was transferred back to state prison, CNN reported.

On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office released video showing Vicky White leading Casey White out of the Lauderdale jail and putting him into her patrol car, as CrimeOnline reported. Singleton had been reluctant to say that his employee “willingly” helped Casey White escape, but he now says he doesn’t see any other explanation.

“Personally I think she’s already regretting what she’s done,” Singleton said. “The sooner she brings this to an end the better for her.”

Authorities have issued warrants for the arrest of both Vicky White, for aiding an escape, and Casey White, for the escape. Casey White was already serving 75 years in prison for a string of violent crimes in 2015 and was awaiting trial for a murder that same year.

The US Marshals Services has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Casey White’s arrest, and $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Vicky White.

For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.

[Featured image: Casey White, left, and Vicky White/US Marshals Service]