Krystian Bala was born on January 1, 1973, in Chojnów, Poland. He pursued higher education and earned a degree in philosophy from the University of Wrocław. Bala was known for his intellectual pursuits and had a keen interest in literature and photography. He was married to Stanislawa, with whom he had a son named Kaspar. However, their marriage ended in separation in 1999. Following the separation, Bala's life took a darker turn, leading to events that would later shock the nation.​

On November 13, 2000, Dariusz Janiszewski, a 35-year-old advertising agency owner from Wrocław, Poland, went missing. His body was discovered on December 10, 2000, in the Oder River, bound and showing signs of torture. The case remained unsolved for several years until a breakthrough in 2005. Investigators found that Bala had sold Janiszewski's mobile phone online shortly after the murder. 

Further scrutiny revealed eerie similarities between the murder and a plot in Bala's 2003 novel, "Amok," suggesting knowledge only the killer could possess. These findings led to Bala's arrest in 2005. In 2007, he was convicted of orchestrating the murder out of jealousy, suspecting an affair between his ex-wife and Janiszewski. 

Bala was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Despite maintaining his innocence, the evidence, including details from his novel, played a significant role in his conviction. In 2008, a retrial upheld his sentence, and he continues to serve his term.​