Yelm stabbing victim identified

The 52-year-old man who was stabbed to death Wednesday in Yelm has been identified as Ross E. Yardley.

An autopsy was conducted Friday, according to the coroner.

Bail was set at $1 million on Thursday for the suspect accused of killing Yardley. Tony Allen Bolton, 50, appeared Thursday in Thurston County Superior Court on one count of second-degree murder. His arraignment is set for Sept. 29.

About 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thurston County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a stabbing at a home in the 19800 block of 161st Way Southeast. The victim was found unresponsive and lying face down on the porch. Medics on the scene confirmed that the man was dead, according to court documents. Bolton was arrested at the scene.

A woman identified as Yardley’s girlfriend told deputies that Yardley knew Bolton from prison and had allowed Bolton to stay in a trailer on the property. Bolton had been living on the property for six to seven weeks, according to court documents.

The stabbing may have taken place during an argument between Yardley and Bolton over missing personal items, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Mark Thompson noted at Thursday’s hearing that Bolton has 20 felony convictions since 1981, including convictions for first-degree robbery, escape and extortion.

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Yelm stabbing victim identified."