US News
Oklahoma man charged with murder after fatal marijuana extraction facility explosion
Two employees died following a blast at an industrial park near Tulsa, leading to first-degree murder charges against the business owner.
The short version
- Ryan Bassham, 35, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after an explosion at Solos Extracts killed two employees.
- The blast occurred early Thursday morning, partially tearing the roof off the building and damaging neighboring businesses.
- Prosecutors allege the employees were unlawfully manufacturing hazardous chemicals under poorly ventilated conditions.
Key facts
- Ryan Bassham turned himself in over the weekend and was released on a $2 million bond after being charged with first-degree murder.[Associated Press]
- The two victims of the explosion were identified as Michael Newman and Stephen Scott, both employees of Bassham.[Associated Press]
- A fire marshal's investigation after the blast revealed large amounts of liquid propane and other hazardous materials that were not present during a January inspection.[Associated Press]
- Prior to his death, Newman told a paramedic that the facility was poorly ventilated and that the explosion occurred after he unplugged something.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- An attorney representing Bassham has not yet been identified to comment on the charges.[Associated Press]