The true story behind Netflix's Jailbreak: Love on the Run, explained

Netflix’s latest true-crime documentary, Jailbreak: Love on the Run, was released recently on September 25, 2024. Spanning an hour and 28 minutes, the documentary delves into one of the most shocking prison escape stories of recent times. Jailbreak: Love on the Run focuses on Vicky White and Casey White's relationship. The former, a corrections officer at the Lauderdale County Jail, helped the latter, convicted for attempted murder and home invasion, escape.

The documentary has the following official synopsis, according to IMDB:

“When Vicky White, a highly respected corrections officer, aids the escape of a violent felon nearly twenty years her junior, it reveals an unexpected love story amidst the ensuing high-profile manhunt and media frenzy.”

Directed by Susanne Bier, Jailbreak: Love on the Run has been directed by Susanne Beir, and revolves around a true story.

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The actual story behind Jailbreak: Love on the Run

The eventual prison escape led the authorities on an 11-day nationwide manhunt. While the escape occurred in 2022, the story begins in 2020, when Vicky White and Casey White initially got into a relationship. Vicky was an experienced corrections officer at Lauderdale County Jail, while the latter Casey was serving a 75-year sentence at the same prison.

Their relationship initially led to Vicky giving Casey preferential treatment, which included more yard time and extra food. While their relationship largely remained a secret, some inmates were known to have suspected that the two were close. Regardless, it was in 2022, when Casey was awaiting trial for the murder of one Connie Ridgeway, when the incident took place.

On April 29, Vicky escorted Casey out of the prison for a mental health evaluation at the county courthouse. The former could escort her partner without any issue due to her authority, considering Vicky had been a corrections officer for more than 17 years.

However, the two did not return, and the investigation revealed that no such mental health examination had been scheduled for Casey White. While authorities initially suspected that Casey may have used force on Vicky White, CCTV footage and other evidence suggested that the two were in cahoots.

Furthermore, Vicky had only recently purchased firearms and men’s clothing and sold her house for less than its market value. This eventually led to a nationwide manhunt for the two. The couple was known to have switched vehicles, stayed in various motels, and been spotted across a variety of cities.

However, on May 9, 2024, the two were spotted by authorities in Evansville, Indiana, which led to a high-speed chase. Due to the nature of the chase, the two’s car tipped over, leading to an accident. While Vicky shot herself as police officers closed in, Casey surrendered without resistance and was charged on May 11, 2022.

While he eventually took a plea deal and is now serving a lifetime in prison, the shocking incident stunned the nation, especially due to Vicky White’s decisions. A well-respected figure in the national prison, Vicky White, for love, threw away a longstanding and rewarding career that she was known to love.

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Further, while Casey survived the chase, she decided to help her partner, which led to her tragic and stunning demise. The story has been delved into in detail in Jailbreak: Love on the Run, with a range of interviews from former inmates also included.

Jailbreak: Love on the Run can be streamed on Netflix.