Missing Alabama inmate, corrections officer had 'special relationship': Sheriff

Casey White and corrections officer Vicki White have been missing since Friday.

The corrections officer and escaped murder suspect who have been missing for days had "a special relationship," the local sheriff confirmed.

Inmate Casey White and Lauderdale County Assistant Director of Corrections Vicki White -- who are not related -- went missing from Florence, Alabama, on Friday.

"Investigators received information from inmates at the Lauderdale County Detention Center over the weekend that there was a special relationship between Director White and inmate Casey White," Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said in a statement Tuesday. "That relationship has now been confirmed through our investigation by independent sources and means."

Vicki White "participated" in the escape with Casey White, Singleton said Monday, adding, "Whether she did that willingly or she was coerced, threatened ... not really sure."