Recaptured Alabama escapee ordered to provide DNA samples

FLORENCE, Ala (AP) — A major murder suspect who authorities say was away for 10 days with the help of an Alabama prison official was ordered to provide prosecutors with a DNA sample.

Lauderdale County District Judge Carole C. Medley did not specify a reason why a sample was needed from Casey White, but she agreed to the state’s request in Wednesday’s injunction, according to records.

Keep scrolling for photos from Casey White and Vicky White quests

White, who is being held in a state prison after being re-arrested in Indiana last week, must provide a sample by Friday or “as soon as possible,” Medley said, and a defense attorney can observe the process.

White was charged with escaping after leaving the Lauderdale County prison in a patrol car driven by Vicky White, assistant director of corrections. Casey White surrendered after being cornered in Evansville, Indiana, and Vicky White, 56, died of gunshot wounds that the coroner said were self-inflicted.

An attorney for Casey White has not publicly commented since the arrest and has not contested the request for a DNA sample, which was made in the runaway case. But the inmate’s mother said she doubted her son knew about the escape until Vicky White came to take him from prison for a mental evaluation that was supposed to take place on April 29.

White is slated to stand trial in June on genocide charges in the 2015 murder of Connie Ridgeway, although delays are possible. Authorities say the man confessed to the murder in 2020 while in prison for another crime.

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