Oklahoma Business Owner Charged with Murder After Fatal Extraction Plant Blast
Published on 09/01/2026 at 07:17 | Editorial boerse-global.de
A marijuana extraction facility owner in Oklahoma faces first-degree murder charges after an explosion killed two employees — a case that underscores the deadly consequences of operating outside regulatory oversight. Ryan Bassham, 35, owner of Solos Extracts, surrendered to authorities and was released on a $2 million bond following the late-August blast near Tulsa.
Fatal Blast Followed Licence and Safety Failures
The explosion tore through the Morrow-Gill Business Complex in Sand Springs at around 1:00 a.m. on August 27. Court records show the facility was running on an invalid licence from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and an expired registration with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
Investigators from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the blast to a chemical reaction. The state fire marshal had reportedly ordered operations at the site to stop just one week before the explosion. Inspections of the debris later uncovered outdated fire suppression equipment and liquid propane on site.
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Two Workers Killed, Dozens of Businesses Damaged
The blast killed Michael Newman and Stephen Scott, both identified in court documents. One died at the scene; the other succumbed to injuries shortly afterwards.
The force of the explosion also rippled through the surrounding industrial complex, with local authorities reporting that between 20 and 25 neighbouring businesses sustained damage.
Separate Charges in County Drug Case
Bassham's legal troubles extend beyond the explosion. Alongside the two murder counts, he faces charges in neighbouring Creek County linked to an illegal marijuana cultivation site near Kellyville. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics arrested him on Monday after his surrender in the murder case.
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Those charges include aggravated trafficking, manufacturing of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of a firearm. District attorneys noted that Bassham initially evaded law enforcement before turning himself in on August 30. The investigation into Solos Extracts' safety protocols and licensing history remains ongoing.
