In April 2022, Casey White escaped from Lauderdale County Detention Center with help from a corrections officer, Vicky White. Released on September 25, 2024, Netflix's Jailbreak: Love on the Run revolves mostly on their dramatic escape and subsequent 11-day run from the law.
The film explores Casey's love affair with Vicky and their attempt at escape from discovery. Tyler Purser, a former cellmate of Casey, is an important person shown in the documentary.
Tyler Purser was Casey White’s cellmate in Lauderdale County Jail. Casey was under custody on capital murder charges; Purser was imprisoned for assault and domestic violence.
Their time behind bars brought the two close. Many have questioned what happened to Tyler Purser following the events, even while Casey and his infamous escape receives a lot of attention.
The official synopsis of Jailbreak: Love on the Run released on Netflix says:
In this gripping documentary, an Alabama corrections officer falls in love with a man awaiting trial for murder and risks it all to help him escape.
Where is Tyler Purser, Casey White's cellmate now?
Tyler Purser has taken significant steps to rebuild his life since his time behind bars. He has tried to make amends for his past actions and is now focused on his family and career.
As of 2024, Tyler lives in Florence, Alabama, working as an Apprentice Wireman with his wife and children. He's dedicated to being a better father and husband, making efforts to repair his relationship with his wife, Payten Danielle Purser.
The connection between Tyler and Casey
Casey and Tyler became acquainted when they were cellmates at Lauderdale County Jail. While Casey was serving time for a series of crimes, Tyler was in jail for domestic violence and assault charges. Interestingly, Purser was a former police officer, which often put him at odds with other inmates.
However, his bond with Casey White grew due to their similar backgrounds and criminal charges. Purser later described Casey as a complicated person, capable of kindness but also harsh actions if offended.
Tyler Purser’s life after prison
Tyler Purser set out to undo the harm his past actions had done once he was released. He decided to be baptized in 2022, which he described as "the best decision" he had ever made.
Tyler and his wife had split but are trying to heal their relationship for the benefit of their two children, Graesyn and Brenna. Purser also actively maintains contact with Eli, his nine-year-old son from a past relationship.
Tyler has been steady in his employment as an Apprentice Wireman with IBEW Local 558 as of 2024. Payten, his wife, had become a homemaker but is now searching for work to help their financial situation. Tyler is resolved to better his life for his family despite the difficulties.
The real incident behind Casey White’s escape
The jailbreak involving Casey White and Vicky White captivated national attention in 2022. On April 29, Vicky White, a respected corrections officer, helped Casey escape from Lauderdale County Detention Center.
Pretending to take him for a psychological evaluation, Vicky instead took Casey on the run. Their escape triggered an 11-day manhunt across several states. The couple switched vehicles and stayed in motels, attempting to avoid capture.
Authorities eventually located them in Evansville, Indiana, leading to a high-speed chase that ended with Casey's capture and Vicky White’s tragic suicide. Vicky had shot herself during the car chase. The events were widely covered in the media, and the case has since become the subject of documentaries and films.
Read more: 5 chilling details about Casey White and Vicky White's jailbreak
The impact of the jailbreak on Tyler Purser
Although Casey's escape didn't directly involve Tyler Purser, it has undoubtedly had a lasting impact on his life.
Having spent time with Casey White and witnessing his behavior in jail, Tyler gave interviews after the jailbreak, sharing his perspective on the case. He believed that Casey White and Vicky White were simply two people from different worlds who had fallen in love.
Tyler’s connection to Casey put him in the public eye for a brief period, but since then, he has focused on moving forward and leaving his past behind. His efforts to rebuild his life after prison have been met with both struggles and successes.
The documentary and the cast
Jailbreak: Love on the Run is a gripping documentary that details the events of Casey and Vicky White’s escape. Released on Netflix, Aaron Ginsburg, William Green and Alex MacRae produced the documentary.
Interviews with people engaged in the case — case investigators, Vicky White's colleagues and fellow prisoners — as well as Casey White's fellow inmates — are included in the film. It clarifies the nuances of the jailbreak as well as the emotional toll it took on all those engaged.
Purser’s reflection on the events
Tyler Purser has expressed his thoughts on Casey White’s actions. Although he never condoned the escape, he believes Casey White was not a monster and that Vicky White wasn't a fool. In his view, they were two people driven by love, albeit in a misguided and dangerous direction.
Adaptations till date
In 2022, Tubi released Prisoner of Love, a movie about the infamous escape of Casey White and Vicky White, starring Nicholle Tom as Vicky and Adam Mayfield as Casey.
Following this, in 2023, Lifetime aired Bad Romance: The Vicky White Story, featuring Wendi McLendon-Covey as Vicky and Rossif Sutherland as Casey White. McLendon-Covey also served as the executive producer for the film.
More recently, in 2024, Netflix released the documentary Jailbreak: Love on the Run, produced by Aaron Ginsburg, William Green and Alex MacRae. The documentary provides an in-depth look at the events surrounding Casey White's escape and his romantic relationship with Vicky, drawing insights from case investigators, former colleagues and fellow inmates.
Today, Tyler Purser remains in Florence, Alabama, where he's focused on rebuilding his life. Although Tyler's incarceration — especially as Casey White's cellmate — was a noteworthy chapter, it's abundantly evident that Tyler is driven to transcend it.
He's trying to be a better man now and supports his family. His priorities as of 2024 are his kids and his work, and he wants to provide his family a solid future.
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