There’s this girl rocker named Sherridean, who we reviewed a few times in HM Magazine. This was back in the ’90s and from what I recall she had a good grasp of the blues and the guitar. Though the idea is no doubt rooted in sexist attitudes, it gets a lot of attention when a girl guitar player excels. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is. Anyway, another thing some of us at HM Magazine remember about this female rocker was a late-night phone call we got from her.
Former Assistant Editor Brian McGovern and I were working late on deadline one night when we were contacted by her. The first thing we got, I recall, was an aol chat message that said something about “…I just survived an F5 tornado in Tulsa, Oklahoma!” In a follow-up phone call, she shared with us how she led a small family to Jesus underneath a mattress at the bottom of a stairwell of an apartment complex. Nothing like the fear of imminent death to get people to realize their need for peace and reconciliation with their Maker. Thank the Good Lord for people with the energy, fortitude and boldness to act and be available to help at crisis times like this.
Over the past couple of months I would receive these very strange voicemails. They were usually left after business hours (like on weekends and stuff), so I’d never be there to get the actual call. A narrator-type voice would say something like, “.0707 blah blah blah…This is a once-only free call provided by City Telecoin. You have a call from…” and then there would be a hurried voice that explained tiny details for about three seconds and then the narrator’s voice would come in and explain that “…any attempt to connect to a third party will result in an immediate termination of the phone call, blah blah blah.” I’d get a flurry of these calls (like 7 at a time) with bits and pieces of a message that she’s trying to communicate in that short window during each call. Here’s bits and pieces of what I heard:
“They’ve got warrants and witnesses against…”
“Sherridean Cole. I need an attorney from Texas. I have $3,000…”
“I’m in Pruscella (?? indistinguishable) Oklahoma. Please help me get my money and get me an attorney.”
“They’re trying to get a court order requiring me to take drugs…”
“They’ve not let me call my own attorney for four months, please…”
“I’ve been set up by the police in this jail … and false arrest…”
“Please help me get my money so I can get an attorney. They won’t let me…”
“I’ve been assaulted in jail and been denied an attorney for four months…”
“This is Sherridean Cole. I was falsely accused. I need…”
I had no idea who this was at first, but the name Sherridean I remembered from reviewing her music way back in the ’90s. Her voice sounded kind of familiar, but I wasn’t getting anywhere with this 2-3 second sound bytes from these voicemails. And then one day I was at home eating when the phone rang and it was her. I was able to have a conversation for several minutes and here is what was communicated (to the best of my recollection from a month ago): This person dated someone in law enforcement. They broke up. She was “set up” and thrown in jail. People in charge that could help her out are related to this ex-boyfriend and they are keeping her in jail and not providing legal counsel, etc. Apparently a court order is being processed that will force her to take some psycho-active drugs and be placed in a mental hospital.
I like to believe the best in people and trust people – especially people that I’ve met and had pleasant conversations with, etc. It’s possible that this person could be mentally ill. It’s possible that she could be delusional. It’s even possible that she could be dangerous. Her charge was assault with a deadly weapon. However, part of me believes her story. Her story is horrific. Can you imagine being given drugs to keep you numb and “out of it” and also being locked up against your will? That’s a nightmare.
Perhaps the power of the press can assist her. Maybe getting the word out about her story will put pressure on the legal system at McLain County Jail to provide her Constitutional right to legal counsel. I hope so.
On the McLain County Jail’s website is the log from November 22-26 were the charges she faces:
Cole, Sherri Dean, Newcastle, was charged with two counts of assault with dangerous weapon.
What would you do to help an artist that you’d covered in the pages of your magazine a decade and a half ago?
Comments