A Limestone County man accused of attempted murder, kidnapping and burglary following a 2015 crime spree and two-state chase will be tried next week in Limestone County Circuit Court, an official said.

Jury selection in the trial of Casey Cole White, 35, of Tanner, is scheduled to begin Monday before Circuit Judge Robert Baker, Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones confirmed Thursday.

White is formally charged with attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree burglary. He was originally facing 12 charges, including one count each of attempted murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree theft, third-degree burglary, attempting to elude, cruelty to animals, breaking and entering a vehicle, three counts of first-degree kidnapping and two counts of first-degree burglary.

The complaint

According to a complaint filed by Limestone County Sheriff’s Investigator Leslie Ramsey, on the night of Dec. 12, 2015, White allegedly went to a home at 22608 Smith Road where his former girlfriend, Kerry Tyler, had recently moved with her two children. Armed with a 40-caliber handgun and a .380-caliber handgun, he entered the home and held Tyler and two other residents at gunpoint. When Tyler ran, White chased her and fired at her multiple times before she escaped. The other two occupants escaped from a window. Tyler’s two children were in the basement at the time. Because on a previous visit to the home White had been greeted by a man holding a shotgun who told him to leave, White fired his gun in front of him while running out the front door. During the process, he fatally shot the family dog.

Crime reports follow

Authorities in Limestone County and Tennessee responded to numerous crime reports after White left his ex-girlfriend’s home.

A man tried to rob, at gunpoint, a man in the 19000 block of Looney Road about 11:30 p.m. When the victim said he had no money, the assailant took the man’s car keys and stole his dark-colored 2007 Ford Explorer.

A man then attempted to hijack a trucker at the Tennessee Welcome Center near mile marker 3 on Interstate 65. Investigators there were told a man with two handguns jumped into the cab of an 18-wheeler and told the operator, “You’re going to drive me.” The driver refused and barricaded himself in his sleeper compartment and later told investigators the gunman was driving a dark-colored SUV.

The gunman ran across the parking lot at the welcome center to where a Kentucky woman was sitting in her car. He demanded she let him into the car. When she refused, the man began firing into the car, striking the woman “multiple times” in the left arm, Hunter said. The woman was later released from Vanderbilt Hospital.

While en route to the welcome center, Giles County investigators received another call about a car-jacking at a Pilot gas station at Exit 22 on Interstate 65. A man wielding a gun had approached the owner of a white 2012 Lincoln MKZ and had stolen the car.

Investigators found a dark Ford Explorer, which had been stolen on Looney Road, at the Tennessee Pilot station. They notified Limestone County sheriff’s deputies of the development.

Surrender

Around midnight, a Limestone deputy spotted the Lincoln traveling south on I-65 at more than 100 mph. Deputies chased the driver, who exited onto U.S. 31 southbound and proceeded through Athens and the Tanner Crossroads before driving into a ditch across the road from Swan Creek Mobile Home Park.

As officers surrounded the Lincoln, the driver — identified as White — stepped out of the car, held a gun to his head and threatened to shoot officers and himself unless he could speak with Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely. In an effort to ease White’s tension, Deputy Casey Foxworthy offers White a Sun Drop soda and some dip but White declines. The sheriff arrived and eventually talked White into surrendering.

When apprehended, White allegedly said his intent was to kill Tyler and have police kill him. He added his only regret was that neither took place and that if he was released he would kill Tyler.

Subpoenas

 Jones and Chief Deputy District Attorney Jim Ayers Jr. will prosecute the case against White. Attorney Dan Totten of Athens is White’s court-appointed attorney. 

White remains in the Limestone County Jail, with bail set at $165,750, records show. 

The state, represented by the DA’s office, has subpoenaed 11 Limestone County sheriff’s deputies and officials, including Mike Blakely, Guy Simmons, Casey Foxworthy, Stanley McNatt, Terry Johnson, Danny Craig, Fred Sloss, Brandon Wallace, Randy King, Justin Flanagan and lead investigator Leslie Ramsey. Seven other witnesses were also subpoenaed, including Kerry Tyler, Charles Abernathy, Ken Ferguson, Michelle Halverson, Joshua Groan, Joshua Scott and Chase Davis. This list does not include those people whom the defense has or will subpoena.