Sam Mullins

I'm not someone who believes in things like luck or fate or the hand of God, but maybe I just needed to hear the right story.

Albert Walker was sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole for the first 25 years, the most severe possible punishment. It was unequivocal justice for Ron Platt and those who knew and loved him.

Albert Walker was sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole for the first 25 years, the most severe possible punishment. It was unequivocal justice for Ron Platt and those who knew and loved him.

So in 2023, when we embarked on making this series and we began our research, we learned that Walker was not only still alive, but that a couple months earlier, he was granted day parole somewhere in Canada. We tried to arrange an interview with him, but were rejected every which way, and I get why.

So in 2023, when we embarked on making this series and we began our research, we learned that Walker was not only still alive, but that a couple months earlier, he was granted day parole somewhere in Canada. We tried to arrange an interview with him, but were rejected every which way, and I get why.

He once gave a CTV journalist an interview from behind bars in 1998, one that didn't end well for him. It's also the only recording of his voice that we have.

He once gave a CTV journalist an interview from behind bars in 1998, one that didn't end well for him. It's also the only recording of his voice that we have.

The victims of his crimes were so appalled by his apparent lack of remorse in the interview that they mobilized to write victim impact letters to the parole board pointing to his ongoing lack of accountability. So, he wouldn't talk to us. But when someone applies for parole, whether they're granted it or not, all board decisions are publicly accessible.

The victims of his crimes were so appalled by his apparent lack of remorse in the interview that they mobilized to write victim impact letters to the parole board pointing to his ongoing lack of accountability. So, he wouldn't talk to us. But when someone applies for parole, whether they're granted it or not, all board decisions are publicly accessible.

And in the case of Albert Walker, I was shocked by how much one can glean through reading them. After serving his first eight years in England, Albert was transferred to the Canadian Penitentiary System in 2005, where the paperwork describes him mostly as an exemplary inmate. He was transferred to Minimum Security in 2017, where he participates in a seniors group and Bible study.

And in the case of Albert Walker, I was shocked by how much one can glean through reading them. After serving his first eight years in England, Albert was transferred to the Canadian Penitentiary System in 2005, where the paperwork describes him mostly as an exemplary inmate. He was transferred to Minimum Security in 2017, where he participates in a seniors group and Bible study.

He was once written up for contraband for having a pack of cigarettes, and one time he was reprimanded for helping his peers fill out their tax forms, which he's not allowed to do for obvious reasons. Walker is described as being an active participant in the rehabilitative programming on the inside, where he was taught to recognize his possible risk factors of re-offense.

He was once written up for contraband for having a pack of cigarettes, and one time he was reprimanded for helping his peers fill out their tax forms, which he's not allowed to do for obvious reasons. Walker is described as being an active participant in the rehabilitative programming on the inside, where he was taught to recognize his possible risk factors of re-offense.

Things like having access to large sums of money, bad, or losing his religious faith, bad. In these programs, Walker was also taught to watch out for, quote, thinking errors that had plagued him in the past. Namely, these three. Everyone does it. I won't get caught. And I deserve this.

Things like having access to large sums of money, bad, or losing his religious faith, bad. In these programs, Walker was also taught to watch out for, quote, thinking errors that had plagued him in the past. Namely, these three. Everyone does it. I won't get caught. And I deserve this.

All in all, though, reading through the details of his engagement and good behavior, it's not surprising that he was granted day parole in June 2023. A fact that we relayed to Ron Platt's one surviving family member, his little brother, Jeff.

All in all, though, reading through the details of his engagement and good behavior, it's not surprising that he was granted day parole in June 2023. A fact that we relayed to Ron Platt's one surviving family member, his little brother, Jeff.

Many of the folks we talked to were disappointed to hear about Walker's day parole. But then, a few months later, we learned that his day parole was revoked for a very simple reason. The man cannot stop lying. Of great concern to the board, reads the decision, is that you continue to misrepresent your criminal behavior. Walker was caught downplaying the severity of his fraud offenses.

Many of the folks we talked to were disappointed to hear about Walker's day parole. But then, a few months later, we learned that his day parole was revoked for a very simple reason. The man cannot stop lying. Of great concern to the board, reads the decision, is that you continue to misrepresent your criminal behavior. Walker was caught downplaying the severity of his fraud offenses.

In conversation, he'd characterize Walker Financial mainly as a legitimate business venture that simply didn't work out. But that wasn't all. He was also caught trying to lead a church service while the chaplain was on leave.