Donald Albin Blom was born on February 5, 1949, in Minnesota. He had a difficult childhood, as his father abused him from a very young age until he was about 13 years old. This abuse had a significant impact on his life. By the time he entered his teenage years, he began to drink heavily and displayed behavioral issues.

During his high school years, Blom was sent to a reform school while in the 10th grade. There, he often skipped classes and struggled to stay focused on his education. His early experiences contributed to a troubled adolescence, where he found it hard to cope with the challenges he faced.

As an adult, Blom became involved in various criminal activities. He had numerous run-ins with the law for offenses related to sexual assault and kidnapping, leading to multiple arrests and convictions. 

On May 26, 1999, Katie Elizabeth Poirier disappeared while working at a convenience store in Moose Lake, Minnesota. A passer-by reported that no attendant was present at the store. Surveillance footage showed Poirier being taken out of the store by a man who had his hand on her neck. The suspect was wearing a backwards baseball cap and a New York Yankees jersey. Witnesses noticed a black pick-up truck circling near the store that night.

Donald Albin Blom was quickly identified as a suspect because he owned a black pick-up truck matching a partial license plate seen by a witness. Blom, who was using the name "Donald Hutchinson" at the time, received additional attention after a former co-worker reported that he resembled the man in the police sketch. Blom had also been absent from work on the day after Poirier's abduction.

On June 22, 1999, Blom was arrested while returning home from a family camping trip. He initially cooperated with authorities but later asked for a lawyer. A thorough search of his properties did not yield Poirier but resulted in the discovery of firearms, which he was prohibited from possessing due to his criminal history. On the second day of the search, investigators found bone fragments in a fire pit on his property. Later tests suggested the fragments belonged to Poirier.

On September 8, 1999, Blom confessed to kidnapping and killing Poirier. He said he strangled her and burned her body. However, his account conflicted with physical evidence. Initially, he also denied sexually assaulting her. Soon after, he recanted his confession, claiming it was made under stress and medication effects.

Blom's trial began in June 2000. Prosecutors presented video surveillance, witness testimonies, and his past criminal record as evidence. Blom's defense claimed he was innocent and provided alibi witnesses, including his wife, who testified that he was at home during the night of the crime. Despite this, the jury convicted Blom of first-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison without parole.

Following his conviction, Blom's wife expressed doubts about his innocence, alleging abuse and stating that she believed he was involved in other crimes. In 2004, an appeal of his conviction was denied. Despite his claims of knowledge about other unsolved crimes, he did not provide new confessions. Investigators continued to suspect Blom of being connected to other murders dating back to the 1970s. Blom died in prison on January 10, 2023.