DUI manslaughter suspect pleads not guilty to concealing meth in body cavity

PANAMA CITY — A Southport woman charged with DUI manslaughter pleaded not guilty Tuesday to concealing methamphetamine in a body cavity while in custody at the Bay County Jail.

Jail guards received information Jessica Finch, 26, possessed methamphetamine while in their custody May 5. During their search, Bay County Jail guards allegedly found two baggies containing crystal methamphetamine hidden in a hollowed out deodorant bottle and sealed in a latex glove in one of Finch’s body cavities, according to court records.

Finch waived her right to a speedy trial and pleaded not guilty to the possession charge Tuesday during her arraignment.

The incident will be added to the two separate cases involving methamphetamine to which Finch has pleaded not guilty — including a wreck involving a death that investigators claim was caused by methamphetamine use.

Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol were able to identify the bloodied faces of Finch and her 27-yearold passenger, Justin Collins, through the agency’s driver database. Finch and Collins were involved in a single-car crash with a tree on County 2301 at about 4 p.m. in June 2013. Finch was critically injured and Collins died of his injuries after arriving at the hospital.

Finch was arrested in January after deputies searched her Southport home and allegedly found enough methamphetamine to charge her with a distribution charge. A few weeks later, on Feb. 13, FHP got a warrant for Finch’s arrest after blood test results showed she had methamphetamine and amphetamine in her system at the time of the crash, according to the arrest report.

Finch’s bonds for outstanding charges, totaling $64,000, were revoked following her latest charge.

Prosecutor Bob Sombathy will be trying the case if Finch opts to go to trial in August.