Investigators say the Sand Springs facility lacked valid licensing and contained hazardous materials that had not been present during an earlier inspection.
SAND SPRINGS, Okla. — A 35-year-old Oklahoma man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after an explosion at a marijuana extraction facility killed two workers and badly damaged more than 20 businesses at an industrial complex near Tulsa.
Ryan Bassham of Tulsa turned himself in Sunday, Aug. 30, after a warrant was issued in connection with the Aug. 27 explosion at Solos Extracts LLC in the Morrow-Gill Business Complex on South Lincoln Avenue. Bassham was booked into the Tulsa County Jail and released after posting bonds totaling $2 million. Prosecutors allege the two deaths occurred while an illegal marijuana manufacturing operation was underway. The charges are accusations, and Bassham is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The explosion happened shortly after 1 a.m. at 411 S. Lincoln Ave. and caused extensive damage throughout the business complex. Stephen Scott was found dead at the facility, while Michael Newman was found alive and taken to a hospital, according to court records and authorities. Newman later died. The Tulsa County district attorney’s office said both men worked for Bassham. Authorities reported no other injuries, although the blast damaged numerous neighboring businesses and sent debris across the industrial area.
Investigators believe the explosion occurred during an active marijuana manufacturing process, according to an arrest affidavit. Newman told a first responder while being taken to the hospital that the extraction area did not have enough ventilation and that the explosion happened after he unplugged something, the affidavit says. Investigators have not announced a final technical cause of the blast, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives continue to examine the scene and circumstances.
The criminal case also focuses heavily on the facility’s licensing status. According to the affidavit, records connected to Solos Extracts showed an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority license and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics registration, but investigators determined they were not valid for Bassham’s operation. Authorities said Bassham was not listed on the required narcotics registration. The affidavit alleges that because he lacked the licenses and registration needed to operate legally, marijuana products were being manufactured unlawfully at the facility when Scott and Newman died.
Sand Springs Fire Marshal Michael Nobles told investigators that he had inspected the business in January as it sought an updated certificate of compliance. During that inspection, Nobles saw an extraction booth commonly used in marijuana processing and an outdated fire suppression system, according to the affidavit. He instructed employees to have a contractor disconnect the extraction booth until the facility could be reinspected. Authorities have also said the company had been directed to halt operations after failing to address fire-code concerns before the fatal blast.
Nobles told investigators he did not see hazardous materials during his January inspection. When he returned after the explosion, however, he reported seeing a large quantity of liquid propane and equipment that had not been there during the earlier visit, according to court records. Investigators have not said that the propane alone caused the explosion, and the precise ignition sequence remains under investigation. The presence of the materials is among the evidence authorities are examining as they seek to establish what happened inside the facility.
The affidavit also describes earlier concerns inside the shared warehouse. A neighboring business owner told Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents that a sensor recorded extremely high carbon dioxide levels about two months before the explosion. Because his company shared a wall with Solos Extracts, the man said he went to alert Bassham and workers. He told investigators he became lightheaded after entering the extraction business. The account is part of the investigative record and has not been tested in court.
Court records indicate investigators believe Bassham had recently taken control of Solos Extracts, which had previously operated under different ownership. The licensing and registration were apparently still tied to the earlier operation as the business changed hands. Prosecutors contend Bassham nevertheless continued marijuana manufacturing without the valid state credentials required for the operation. The murder charges are based on the allegation that Scott and Newman died during that unlawful activity, according to the arrest affidavit.
The explosion caused widespread disruption at the Morrow-Gill complex, partially tearing apart portions of the building and damaging surrounding businesses. Local authorities said the force was felt miles away. Photos and video from the aftermath showed extensive structural damage, but investigators have not publicly estimated the total financial loss. Businesses in the complex have been assessing damage while authorities continue investigating the conditions inside Solos Extracts before the blast.
Bassham surrendered after Tulsa County prosecutors obtained the murder warrant and was released on bond the same day. The Associated Press reported Monday that court records did not list an attorney currently representing him. The OSBI and ATF investigation into the exact cause of the explosion remains active, while the two first-degree murder cases move forward in Tulsa County District Court. No finding of criminal responsibility has been made by a judge or jury.