Former Bishop Pleads Guilty in DUI Death of Baltimore Cyclist: Report

The day before she was to go to trial in Baltimore City on charges including manslaughter, former Episcopal bishop Heather Elizabeth Cook struck a plea deal.

Cook, 58, pleaded guilty to four offenses—vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident, texting while driving and driving while intoxicated—according to the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office.

She was supposed to go to trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court Wednesday, according to court records.

Cook was indicted on 13 charges—manslaughter, negligent manslaughter, homicide by motor vehicle while intoxicated, homicide by motor vehicle while under the influence and nine traffic violations—in the death of bicyclist Thomas Palermo on Roland Avenue.

Palermo, 41, was riding in a bike lane when he was hit on Dec. 27, 2014, authorities said. Cook reportedly left the scene and later returned.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby alleged that Cook registered a 0.22 blood alcohol level on a breathalyzer. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 in Maryland.

In the plea agreement announced Tuesday, the state’s attorney recommended a sentence of 20 years in jail with 10 years suspended, plus 5 years of probation.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 27.

Cook was the first female bishop in the Maryland Episcopal Diocese when inducted in May 2014. The diocese reported that she resigned on May 1, 2015.

Photo Credit: Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

More:

• Trial Postponed for Former Bishop Charged in Bicyclist Death
• Bishop Pleads Not Guilty in Bicyclist Death
• State’s Attorney: Bishop was Drunk, Texting at Time of Crash
• Maryland Bishop Investigated in Fatal Bike Crash