Former Bishop Denied Parole In Deadly Hit-And-Run

The state parole board on Tuesday denied early release for former Episcopal bishop Heather Cook, who has served 18 months of a seven-year prison sentence for a hit and run crash that killed a cyclist.

The hearing was held at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women in Jessup, where Cook is serving her sentence. She'll remain detained until 2019, assuming credits for good behavior. After that she would remain on supervised probation until 2022.

Maryland Parole Board Chairman David Blumberg told reporters that Cook testified at the hearing, but did not express remorse for her actions, noting she called it, "a brutal irony."

Listen to a news conference held by Maryland Parole Board Chairman David Blumberg:

In 2015, Cook pleaded guilty to auto manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, driving while texting and leaving the scene of an accident. She admitted in court that she was drunk and distracted when she hit and killed bicyclist Thomas Palermo on Dec. 27, 2014. She was denied parole in part because that was her second alcohol-involved incident, and she left the scene of the crime.

Palermo's widow Rachel testified at the hearing, and then made a brief statement to reporters.

Parole Bd says Heather Cook showed no remorse during hearing..called process "brutal irony" — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) May 9, 2017

Rachel Palermo urged people not to drink or drive or text and drive as Cook was doing.

Tom Palermo's widow just spoke pic.twitter.com/EZvL1JOdrN — Robert Lang WBAL (@Reporterroblang) May 9, 2017

"I want you to think of a six and an eight year old who wish there Dad was here. I want you to think of me and my pain. I want you to think of Tom's parents, and I want you to think of your own loved ones," Palermo told reporters.

Listen to the statement of Rachel Palermo:

Supporters of Palermo’s family and many in the Baltimore cycling community were angry that Cook could get out of jail so early in her sentence.

"I don't believe being released early is adequate punishment for Heather Cook's crime," said Liz Cornish, executive director of Bikemore. "Tom was well-loved among the bicycling community. He was also a really good friend, but most importantly, a father and husband to his family."

Because vehicular manslaughter is considered a non-violent crime, Cook was eligible for parole after serving 25 percent of her sentence, which would be in July.

"Our concern is that if we don't advocate for an adequate punishment that it emboldens people to believe that people who ride bikes aren't important," Cornish said.

They were also concerned that Cook did not lose her driver's license as part of her sentence.

"We are concerned that an early release would mean that Heather Cook could be back behind the wheel of a car," Cornish said.

Bikemore asked its members to write personal letters to the parole board, urging it not to grant parole for Cook.

"There's just no amount of time that's going to heal the wounds inflicted on Tom's family and friends and the cycling community because of the choice that she made, but I do believe that releasing her this early at the earliest opportunity sends a message that this type of crime is not worth serving your full sentence," Cornish said.