Manning
White
Thurman
Johnston
Samantha Michelle White, 41, Maria R. Thurman, 34, Violet Virginia Manning, 37, and Amy Michelle Johnston, 30, have each been charged with manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of meth and child abuse.
According to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, several members of the Calhoun-Liberty Drug Task Force served a search warrant just before 11 p.m. on a residence at 19054 NE Elm Street where White, Johnston and Thurman all reside. After knocking and announcing, "Sheriff's Office, search warrant!" several times, Sgt. Jared Nichols had to force the south door open as no one inside would respond.
Once inside the home, various components of a "shake and bake" meth lab were found in plain view with meth in the process of being manufactured in a back bedroom. A hot plate was turned off to reduce the risk of explosion and potential fire hazard as chemicals were being heated.
Investigators learned Manning had an outstanding felony warrant and was immediately apprehended. She surrendered an estimated half gram of meth as she was taken into custody.
The search of the home revealed a reaction vessel with meth residue, stripped lithium batteries and a variety of chemicals used to manufacture meth. Several pieces of tin foil with burnt meth residue, as well as meth that had not yet been smoked, were also recovered.
Thurman, White and Johnston allegedly admitted that Thurman's six children and White's two children had been present while meth was being manufactured. During interviews, each of the women reportedly confessed to her own role in the meth preparation or "cook" process occurring in the home.
A Florida Department of Children and Families investigator was contacted and consented to the children being turned over to family and friends of the parents.
The search team included Lt. Mark Mallory, Sgt. Todd Wheetley, Sgt. Jared Nichols, Deputies Scotty Norris, Gary McGhee and Jail Deputy Christian Smith.