The former suffragan bishop of Maryland will be released from a Maryland state prison this month half way through her seven year term, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Safety and Correctional Services said on 30 April 2019.
Gerard Shields, a spokesman for Correctional Services, said Heather Cook would be freed “sometime around the middle of May.” Cook had been turned down for parole in 2017, for work-release in 2018, and for home detention earlier this year. However, the court did allow her to serve her sentences concurrently, making her eligible for release this summer due to time off for good behavior.
On 27 Oct 2015 a Baltimore City judge sentenced Cook to 20 years imprisonment, but suspended 13 years of her sentence. Cook was to serve five years for manslaughter followed by a two year sentence for leaving the scene of the accident. She was sentenced to a further five years probation upon completion of her term. Cook is currently incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institute in Jessup.
According to court records on the afternoon of 27 Dec 2014 Cook was driving her car on Roland Avenue in Baltimore while intoxicated — her blood alcohol level was later recorded at .22 per cent, three times the state’s legal limit.
She then began to text whilst driving and swerved out of the traffic lane onto the bicycle lane, striking cyclist Richard Palermo from behind. The collision propelled Palermo onto the hood and windshield of the car and then on to the pavement. Cook then left the scene of the accident for approximately thirty minutes, and then returned to the scene of the collision but drove away again. She then returned to the scene a second time and was arrested by police.
Cook was charged with 13 felony counts and after arraignment was released on bail of $2.5 million.
At her sentencing hearing the victim’s family and prosecutors asked for ten years imprisonment. Cook apologized to the Palermo family, expressing contrition for her actions. The judge told Cook that the seven year sentence would not be her final judgment. That would come when she would stand before her maker. Heather Cook was deposed from the ministry of the Episcopal Church in May 2015.
This is nothing short of disgusting!!!
For her sake, and for the sake of people in her community on release, I hope she doesn’t ever drink again.
This woman has rightly faced the consequences of her crime and the man’s family will grieve, and many people will be affected by what happened.
We know that stress is often a significant cause of usually responsible people driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.
.I do have some sympathy for the woman. Her career/calling is over, her family life will never be the same, she is going to live with the guilt and the shame for the rest of her earthly life. I hope she finds grace and forgiveness.
Dannyboy, I agree with much of your comment but not all of it. First she has not served her entire sentence but only part of it. I don’t see that as rightly facing the consequence of her actions. As to her reasoning for driving while intoxicated- it was widely known that she had a serious drinking problem but it was never addressed! Alas, as deposed TEC clergy, chances are good she does not feel contrition and I doubt she will be living with guilt and shame for the rest of her life as I am not sure that many TEC clergy (not all – don’t misunderstand me) truly understand guilt and shame as human emotions.I do hope she finds the forgiveness of God but I am not hopeful she will….Pray for her!
Hmmm,
Actually having done some web research I apologise for not reading your comment more thoroughly. She does indeed have a record.
However having had an elder brother who was also an alcoholic – but couldn’t drive – I still pray that some how the Lord will bring her to a place of true repentance and deliverance. I believe that whilst we should not expect to be delivered from the consequences of our sins our God is the God of new beginnings, and His desire is that none of us should perish.
Well according to how the authorities chose to interpret the terms of her sentence, she has.
Whilst we may feel she has been dealt with too leniently, I doubt a shorter sentence will make her feel better or expunge her sense of guilt before God. I fear she will be a tormented soul, and those of us who have experienced true repentance and forgiveness will hope that she will find forgiveness in the love and compassion of our Lord.
Not being an Anglican I tend to forget what TEC actually stands for, so please remind me.
SCBluCat & Dannybhoy, I have mixed feelings about this case and its final disposition. I remember reading an article a year or two ago about this case and was surprised and somewhat disturbed that she took the first opportunity to request release from prison and serve the remainder of her term at home. It seemed to me from what I read that she felt she had paid her dues. But as you said Dannybhoy, we worship the God of new beginnings and his arms are always open for her..
Our time on earth is brief. I think the God of holiness and compassion is as you say always open for us sinners ‘for He knoweth that we are but dust’. Whatever our weaknesses and sins God’s grace is always available. So whilst we Christians should accept that we and sometimes those we love may suffer the consequences of our sin, God is rich in mercy and able to save to the uttermost.
(Otherwise there might not be many of us left!)
To answer your question, TEC stands for The Episcopal Church.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question(s).
You see not only am I old and suffering short term memory loss, I am acronymically challenged.
Have been since birth..
So LBB, what about CANA and ANCANA and other “in house acronyms designed to keep outsiders “out”?
Are you willing to risk all to bring this dog eared old nonconformist in from the cold?