John Woodhouse Blast was a retired art dealer and descendant of famed painter John James Audubon. A resident of Siesta Key, Florida, he also operated an illegal wildlife smuggling ring, trading in animal furs, ivory and rhino tusks. He was small, fussy man with pale skin and a pencil mustache. Blast was later killed at his home by Judson Esterhazy, who was covering up Helen's research trail that ultimately led to the creation of Project Aves.