Nephew charged with murder after fatal stabbing at Fresno plant nursery

Just before 4 p.m. on Easter Sunday, a family-owned nursery on East Central Avenue in Fresno turned into a violent crime scene when dispatchers reported a man attacking multiple people with a machete.

Maria Salud Banda Wash, 64, died after being stabbed at Sago Rey Palms Plant Nursery, the business she owned. The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office identified the suspect as her nephew, 29-year-old Nicolas Arriaga of Fresno, who now faces a murder charge.

A second victim, a 46-year-old woman, was also stabbed. Deputies said she suffered hand injuries while trying to defend herself and was released from the hospital later that night. Banda Wash was carried to EMS personnel with critical upper-body injuries and died in the hospital on April 13, 2026, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies said Arriaga was still armed with the machete when they arrived at 6700 E. Central Ave. After deputies ordered him to drop the weapon, Arriaga allegedly charged toward them and fought with them before being handcuffed. Some deputies suffered minor injuries during the confrontation. Authorities also said Arriaga tried to attack a man, but that person escaped without injury.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office filed charges of murder, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of making criminal threats, resisting arrest with violence and deadly-weapon enhancements. Arriaga is being held in the Fresno County Jail on $2.21 million bail.

Investigators described the incident as isolated and said the suspect and victims were relatives. Even so, the violence left a small business with a deadly aftermath and a neighborhood nursery wrapped up in a family tragedy that spilled into public view. The sheriff’s office said the case is 26-3870 and asked witnesses to contact Detective Jose Leon, Detective Michael Sasso or Crime Stoppers.