Man arrested in connection with Toppenish stabbing death

TOPPENISH, Wash. – A 38-year-old man was arrested early Saturday following the Friday night stabbing death of 68-year-old Basil Emmons of Toppenish, according to the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office.

The man – identified as a family member of Emmons’ – was booked into the Yakima County jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, the sheriff’s office said.

Emmons was found by a relative inside his home in the 200 block of Wanity Park Drive, outside of Toppenish. Detectives said he appeared to have been stabbed multiple times.

The investigation was turned over to the sheriff’s office when detectives – along with Yakama Nation tribal police – determined Emmons was not enrolled in a Native American tribe.