Son of woman who jail break prisoner Casey White confessed killing doesn’t believe him & sends message to ‘real killer’

THE family of a woman brutally stabbed to death in a senseless and still-unsolved murder say they remain in fear for their own lives after a false confession was recanted by jail-breaker Casey White – and her real killer remains at large.

Connie Ridgeway was fatally attacked by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in Rogersville, Alabama, in October 2015.

The 59-year-old mom-of-two suffered multiple sharp force and blunt-force injuries to her face and neck and her lifeless body was found in the living room.

It was believed Ridgeway may have been killed during a home invasion robbery but a concrete motive has never been established.

Local investigators carried out dozens of interviews, but, before long, leads in the case dried up, and the investigation – while still open – slowly grew cold.

An unexpected break in the case came five years later, in 2020, when convicted felon Casey White confessed to police he'd been hired to kill Ridgeway.

He was charged with capital murder but later pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

White then made headlines across the country in April 2022 when he broke free from the Lauderdale County Detention Center with his corrections officer lover Vicky White (no relation), sparking an 11-day nationwide manhunt that ended with Vicky White dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and Casey White reincarcerated.

Casey White's jailbreak attempt caused significant delays to the Ridgeway trial while he was investigated for – and later cleared of – murder charges in connection to Vicky White's death.

Then, in July 2023, two weeks before the Ridgeway murder was due to go to trial, the Lauderdale County DA moved to suspend Casey White's prosecution indefinitely.

At the time, the DA's office said – with Ridgeways' children's blessing – they'd decided to suspend the trial, in part, because investigators were continuing to actively investigate the case, "including but not limited to the potential involvement of other people in the murder of Connie Ridgeway."

Casey White offered three confessions to police about the alleged murder-for-hire that saw him allegedly kill Ridgeway.

At the time of his first confession, he said he wanted to set the record straight because he believed his life and his family's lives were in danger.

'KILLER IS OUT THERE'

White was then being held at the Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer. He had recently gotten into a physical skirmish with one of the prison's leading gang members and feared retribution.

Each of White's confessions offered a slightly different version of events, but he claimed to have been paid $2,500 by a woman to carry out the murder, receiving half of that amount up front.

White admitted to cutting Ridgeway's throat with a knife but said he couldn't remember striking her with anything else, other than his fists.

However, Ridgeway's autopsy showed she'd suffered multiple stab wounds to the face, neck, and hands as well as hammer blows to her head and fingers. 

A bloodied knife and hammer were also recovered from the scene.

White eventually recanted his confessions and police have since shifted the focus of their investigation away from him.

Ridgeway's son, Austin Williams, told The U.S. Sun he was shocked by investigators deciding to drop their pursuit of White for his mom's murder, believing the investigation was a "done deal."

He no longer believes White was involved.

Instead, Austin says he thinks White falsely confessed so he could be moved from Donaldson Correctional to Lauderdale County where his life would no longer be in danger.

"I'm shocked because I thought for sure the state had concrete evidence against Casey White, that's why I'd been looking forward to his trial for so long, to learn what his connection to my mother was and why she was killed," said Austin.

"But, clearly the evidence was flimsy [...] and it feels terrible and depressing because for so long we thought we had the guy, then he escaped and delayed things, and now it turns out he isn't the guy after all.

"Nine years have passed and we're still in the same boat, we are back to square one.

"And now we have to wonder if the state is even going to pay attention to the case.

"It's just really concerning because the person who did this is still out there."

NO CLEAR MOTIVE, ONLY THEORIES

The Lauderdale County District Attorney's Office has not yet responded to a request for comment.

According to Austin, investigators struggled to corroborate some of White's claims, including the exchanging of money, and ultimately deemed his testimony unreliable.

Austin said he can't think of anyone who would wish to do harm to his mother, whom he remembers as "just the sweetest southern lady you could imagine."

However, he shared that she was due to appear as a key witness in a fraud trial days before her death, which may hold the key to establishing a motive for her mysterious killing.

"That's always stood out to me as maybe more than a coincidence," Austin said.

"Was my mother murdered to stop her testifying in that case? That's something I've asked myself.

"It certainly seems a little sketchy, right?"

Details concerning the trial in question are being withheld until those involved can be contacted for comment.

Austin said his mom was also known in the local area for opening her doors to anyone in need, including a man who she'd kicked out of her apartment days before her murder.

The man, who is now dead, was interviewed by police and he told investigators he was interested in Ridgeway romantically but she did not share his affections.

That individual was not found to be a match for DNA recovered from the scene, Austin said.

His mom also had another close male friend – who has also since died – who had access to her apartment but didn't enter the property when he went to check to see if she was okay, having not received any messages or calls from her for several days.

I don't have the words to describe the person who could do something like this, but we're worried that they're still out there.

Austin WilliamsConnie's son

Austin said that always struck him as suspicious.

The man was later arrested for a DUI just hours after her remains were found.

LIVING IN FEAR

Austin said he and his brother, Cameron, are both desperately seeking closure over their mother's death.

They both also remain suspended in a state of fear, knowing whoever committed the horrific act could still be out there harming others.

"I'm pretty worried actually," said Austin. "After the murder happened I went through a service that scrubbed my name off the internet in case someone was trying to find me.

"If somebody can murder my lovely mother in such a horrible and brutal way, what else are they capable of?

"We were left to wonder, were they after all of us?"

Austin added, "I don't have the words to describe the person who could do something like this, but we're worried that they're still out there.

"And if they are, I'd ask them to please turn themselves in.

"This innocent woman was brutally murdered and it's just been a battle since then. Her community, her family, and her friends need and deserve answers for their peace of mind.

"My mother deserves to finally rest in peace, too."

There is currently a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest for Ridgeway's murder.

Casey White, meanwhile, is currently serving a 75-year sentence for kidnapping and attempted murder.

He was issued an additional life sentence for his escape attempt with Vicky White and will not be eligible for parole until 2081.

Anyone with information about Connie Ridgeway's murder has been urged to call the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's tip line at 1-800-392-8011.