The former suffragan Bishop of Maryland, Heather Cook, will appear in a Baltimore City Court at 2:00 pm today to stand trial for causing the death of Thomas Palermo. On 27 Dec 2014 Cook struck Palermo with her car and allegedly fled the scene of the accident. Cook, who was deposed from the ministry of the Episcopal Church in May, is charged with being intoxicated while driving, and having been texting with her cellphone when she swerved out of the traffic lane on Roland Avenue in Baltimore into the bike lane, striking Palermo and causing his death. When tested by police, Cook’s blood alcohol level registered 0.22 per cent, three times the legal limit in Maryland. Cook’s trial was advanced by one day, with local news outlets speculating that a plea agreement has been reached with the prosecution.
