Walter Huling was “relapsing” and using cocaine right as the state was lowering his risk score, according to 9NEWS Investigates reporting.

DENVER — A week before a parolee high on methamphetamine lost control of a stolen car in Douglas County and caused a wreck that resulted in five deaths, including his own, a Colorado parole officer concluded the parolee was little more than “low risk” to reoffend. 

The risk score, according to an analysis by 9NEWS Investigates of never-before-released parole records, was the result of at least three errors.

Walter Huling’s “low risk” score in November 2024 allowed the repeat felon to face infrequent face-to-face check-ins and fewer drug screens right as he was “relapsing” while on parole, according to Huling’s parole records. 

The November 2024 crash on Colorado Highway 83 near Franktown also killed Alvin Corrado, his 12-year-old daughter, his 8-year-old son and his 12-year-old stepson.

For more on this story, and others, visit the Denver Gazette’s news partners 9NEWS.com.