A Mapleton man was sentenced Monday to life in prison in connection with the murder of his father, 71-year-old Blaine Lars Almhjeld.
Troy Blaine Almhjeld, 48, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder and two counts of driving while intoxicated.
The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle in the ditch off of Highway 22 near the Terrace View Golf Course in June 2025. Blaine Almhjeld was the registered owner of the vehicle.
A witness said they saw Troy Almhjeld walking away from the vehicle after driving off the road. He asked the witness for a ride.
When authorities got to the apartment that the Almhjelds lived in together, they found Blaine lying on the floor covered in blood. He had several cuts to his chest and injuries to his head. Deputies also found a bloody knife in the kitchen.
Authorities arrested Troy Almhjeld near his vehicle. Court documents state he kept asking if his father was okay and admitted they had been arguing.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, several resources are available to offer help. For immediate help, contact:
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
- Minnesota Day One at 866-223-1111.
- The Women’s Advocates crisis line at 651-227-8284.
More than 12 million people just in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence every year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
The organizations listed above can help connect victims to resources like safe shelter, advocacy, legal help and support groups.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers tips for identifying abuse and supporting victims of abuse. CLICK HERE to see those.
Other organizations that can help include:
- Violence Free Minnesota at 651-646-6177 or 800-289-6177.
- STANDPOINT(formerly the Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project) at 612-343-9842.
- Mending the Sacred Hoop at 888-305-1650.
- Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault at 612-209-9993.
Minnesota also has a list of many other resources for victims of crimes that can be found HERE.
