Prosecutors charged an Oklahoma extraction shop owner with two counts of first-degree murder after a blast killed two workers and wrecked nearby businesses.
Story Highlights
- Court records say the owner lacked required state licenses at the time of the explosion.
- Investigators say a tetrahydrocannabinol extraction process sparked the deadly blast.
- Two employees died; prosecutors filed first-degree murder in the commission of a crime.
- Reports say a fire marshal flagged safety and compliance issues before the incident.
Charges Center On Licensing And Illegal Manufacturing
Tulsa County prosecutors charged Ryan Bassham with two counts of first-degree murder after an explosion at Solos Extracts in Sand Springs killed two workers and damaged dozens of nearby businesses. An affidavit cited by The Oklahoman states Bassham was not listed as a legal registrant and did not have a valid Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority license or Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics registration at the time, framing the activity as illegal manufacturing of controlled substances. Authorities say the deaths occurred during the commission of a crime.
Investigators said the blast originated in a tetrahydrocannabinol extraction process inside the business complex. Local coverage reports that the owner later surrendered and posted bond after a warrant issued on the murder counts. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed the surrender and charges. Officials are still sorting the full damage to businesses in the area and assessing code and safety gaps that may have allowed hazardous solvent work to proceed overnight.
Fire Safety Warnings And Reported Compliance Failures
Media accounts based on court documents report that a fire marshal found problems months before the explosion, including an outdated fire suppression system and equipment tied to marijuana manufacturing. Reporting also says the marshal later found significant volumes of liquid propane and other hazardous material after the blast that were not present during the earlier inspection. These details support the state’s theory that unsafe and unlawful operations raised the risk for workers and neighbors.
One affidavit passage reported by The Oklahoman says an injured worker told medical staff the area was not ventilated and that he had unplugged something moments before the explosion. That statement, if proven at trial, would fit known hazards from solvent vapor buildup during extraction work. Prosecutors say the two men who died, Michael Newman and Stephen Scott, were employees, and they link their deaths to hazardous chemical handling at the site during illegal operations.
Felony-Murder Theory And Why It Matters Here
Oklahoma’s jury instructions explain first-degree murder can apply when a death results from committing an underlying felony. Prosecutors often use this path when a dangerous, unlawful activity leads to a fatal outcome, even if there was no intent to kill. If the state proves illegal manufacturing and a direct causal link to the explosion, the felony-murder rule offers a clear route to conviction under Oklahoma law.
Ryan Bassham has been arrested & booked into the Tulsa County Jail on 2 counts of 1st degree murder following a deadly explosion at a Sand Springs marijuana facility that killed 2 people.
Read more: https://t.co/UT4EeMD64K
(Photo courtesy of Tulsa County Sheriff's Office) pic.twitter.com/RLQoHXXcB7
— Tulsa's News Pulse | KTUL (@KTULNews) August 31, 2026
Similar cases across the country show courts treat butane and solvent-based extraction as high risk. Federal and state prosecutions have secured prison terms after explosions tied to illegal hash oil labs endangered lives. These cases focus on the danger to workers and bystanders when operators skirt safety rules, hide activity, or ignore local fire codes. The pattern underscores the stakes when hazardous chemical work happens outside a lawful and inspected framework.
What Conservative Readers Should Watch Next
City and state officials will need to explain how a flagged site kept operating. Regulators owe answers about inspections, follow-up, and enforcement. Communities should not endure midnight blasts from risky labs next door. Prosecutors have charged the owner, but preventing the next disaster means strict checks, clear shutdown orders, and swift action when operators ignore rules. Local small businesses harmed by the blast also deserve a path to recover losses from negligent actors.
Limits And The Road To Trial
Court documents and local reports shape much of what is public today. Defense filings were not available in the material cited. A trial will test the evidence: licensing status, safety warnings, chemical quantities, ventilation, and the exact ignition source. The known facts already highlight a basic point: dangerous chemistry requires strict compliance. When operators cut corners, workers and neighbors pay the price. The law steps in hard when unlawful conduct kills.
Sources:
ktul.com, kjrh.com, fox23.com, sharonbishopbaldwin.substack.com
