The incident unfolded on the evening of Sunday, November 2, 2025, when YCSO deputies responded to a call on Twilight Way in the South Toe community. Upon arrival, Emma Gibbs Deyton was discovered deceased at the scene.
Shortly after the discovery, Henry Paul Deyton was reportedly involved in a single-vehicle crash just a few miles from the initial location. He was subsequently airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
Following the crash and the warrant issuance, the YCSO confirmed that Deyton is currently in the custody of the Johnson City Police Department while he continues to receive medical care.
The case is under active investigation by the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office, which is receiving assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Authorities have not released any further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the homicide or the crash at this time.
Editor's Note: A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.