Frank Coleridge

"Truth is like the sun, boy, you can shut it out, but it ain't going away.
 * —Frank Coleridge to Murphy Pendleton about facing his past."

Frank Coleridge was a corrections officer working in Ryall State Prison during Murphy Pendleton's incarceration. He is a key role for Silent Hill: Downpour and the comic Anne's Story. He appears in Murphy's flashbacks, attempting to endorse Murphy's release from jail by presenting his case to the parole board. He believed that Murphy was different from the other prisoners because of his demeanor and clean record, and his constant pleads to the parole board makes Murphy believe that Frank is one of the only people who "never gave up on him".

Personality
Frank was known as an excellent, benevolent and great cop who treated his family, friends, and even the inmates with the same amount of respect. Kind and just, he always looked for the positive side of people.

His only qualm was with George Sewell, who he knew was corrupt. He even warns Murphy to stay away from Sewell and his "deals" as they never end well.

Silent Hill: Downpour
Because of his upstanding morals and benevolence, Frank's image tends to act as Murphy's conscience. He can frequently be seen appearing in mirrors and offering advice. When Murphy runs from the Void, it is Frank's voice that acts as dialogue or advice. His mysterious appearances hint at Murphy's dual morality. Sewell represents Murphy's temptation encouraging him to walk the path of revenge, while Coleridge represents Murphy's conscience directing him down the path of redemption.

In the game's conclusion, it's revealed that he was the father of Anne Marie Cunningham. Years before the events of Downpour, George Sewell made a deal with Murphy: in exchange for serving him Patrick Napier, Murphy would have to kill Frank, but Murphy could not bring himself to do it due to his great respect for him. After breaking their deal, Sewell proceeded to beat and stab Frank with a shiv and framed Murphy for the crime.

Frank survived, but was left crippled in a vegetative state and bound to a wheelchair. Anne looked after him and this caused a rift between her and her husband. Frank spent years in a wheelchair as a vegetable. He eventually died afterwards.

He also haunts Murphy as the Wheelman. The monster could symbolizes Murphy's guilt, since Murphy's deal with Sewell played a role in his eventual demise. Even when it's revealed that Murphy does not kill Frank ("Truth and Justice"/"Forgiveness" endings), Murphy still apologizes to Anne because his actions (seeking revenge on Napier) indirectly led to Frank's death. It is also possible that this manifestation is actually not of Murphy's mind, but Anne's instead, who blames Murphy for the result of what became of her father, and additionally because Murphy seems completely surprised to see that the Wheelman was indeed Frank.

In the "Full Circle" ending of the game, it's revealed Murphy did in fact murder Frank. In the "Truth and Justice" and "Forgiveness" endings, George Sewell is responsible for Frank's death. The epilogue of Anne's Story confirmed that the "Truth and Justice" ending is the canon ending.

Trivia

 * Murphy's comment on Frank is: "What was it you saw in me? What's the point in helping just another screw up- constantly dismissed even by his loved ones- and yet you somehow found a reason to believe in me. Well, you shouldn't have done that, my friend. People believing in me tend to end up badly." By this comment, Murphy is probably referring to Charlie Pendleton's death as he was again unable to protect him.
 * Frank bears a resemblance to Frank Sunderland, who also shares his name.
 * The phrase that Frank remarks in the mirror at the Centennial Building radio station, "For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but just the sight of the stars makes me dream," is a nod to a lyric in the recurring Otherworld gramophone song "Born Free", the particular line being "The world still astounds you, each time you look at a star".

Anne's Story
ფრენკ კოლერიჯი Frank Coleridge