Alabama fugitive corrections official Vicky White died of suicide, coroner’s office says

On Wednesday, Evansville officials released audio of a 911 call they say Vicky White made during Monday’s chase — audio that gives some insight into the seconds leading to her death but does not by itself appear to clarify how or when she sustained the gunshot injury.

What the 911 call reveals

As officers were chasing a Cadillac driven by Casey White on Monday afternoon, they rammed the Cadillac into a ditch, and the vehicle rolled over, authorities said. Investigators believe Vicky White shot herself “once the vehicle crashed,” Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding said Tuesday.

The 911 audio appears to start near the end of the chase. It begins with someone saying something indiscernible, and the dispatcher saying “Evansville 911.” No one appears to address the dispatcher, who says, “911” and “hello” seemingly without being answered.

Instead, a woman’s voice — which authorities say is Vicky White’s — is heard within the first six seconds saying things including, “Stop,” and “Wait, stop … air bags going to go off and kill us.”

Twelve seconds in, a loud noise is heard — the first of at least four loud noises to happen in about 15 seconds. It’s unclear in each instance what the noises represent, and it’s unclear from the audio when the car was rammed, when it rolled over, and when a gun was fired.

“God,” the woman says after the first noise. “Air bags are going off. Let’s get out and run.” She mentions a hotel.

The second noise is heard, and the woman shrieks. At least two more noises come, followed — now 30 seconds into the tape — by another shriek.

For the next 30 seconds, generally only muffled sounds of sirens are heard. A minute into the recording, a soft voice is heard — perhaps a moan — but it’s not clear whose voice it is.

Shortly after, distant voices are heard, along with occasional movement, though it’s unclear whether it’s inside or outside the vehicle. About one minute and 40 seconds into the recording, someone starts repeatedly saying phrases like “she is breathing” and “got a gun in her hand.”

The phone line stays open as officers work to get the pair out of the vehicle.

Vicky White was transported to a hospital, where she died, the US Marshals said.

The 911 recording does not appear to reveal Vicky White mentioning a gun or her finger on a trigger. However, other people in the recording — presumably responding officers — can be heard saying her finger was on the trigger when they found her.

CNN has sought comment from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office about how to reconcile the 911 audio with the remarks by the sheriff and the dispatcher.

No law enforcement officers fired any shots during the chase, according to Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton.

When officers pulled Casey White out of the car and took him into custody, he reportedly told them to help “his wife” who had shot herself in the head and insisted he didn’t do it, according to US Marshal Marty Keely, who said to their knowledge, the pair was not married. Authorities previously said the officer and inmate were not related.

“(Casey White) said he was probably going to have a shootout, at the stake of both of them losing their lives,” Wedding said.

What will happen to Casey White?

Casey White was returned to Alabama Tuesday night to attend an arraignment in Lauderdale County.

After the hearing, White was transferred directly to the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility, a state prison in Bessemer, Alabama, a little more 100 miles south of Lauderdale County.

White was already serving a 75-year sentence for a series of crimes he committed in 2015, including a home invasion, carjacking and police chase, according to the US Marshals Service.

White’s murder trial is currently set for June. During Tuesday’s court appearance, White’s attorney, Jamy Poss, said he would be filing a change of venue motion, which the judge said he would consider.