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Man charged with murder in deadly explosion at marijuana facility
USA Today • • nation
Key Points:
- An Oklahoma man, Ryan Bassham, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder following a deadly explosion at Solos Extracts LLC, a marijuana extraction business in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, on August 27.
- The explosion resulted in the deaths of employees Michael Newman, 41, and Stephen Scott, 28, and caused damage to dozens of nearby businesses.
- Investigations revealed Bassham was illegally operating the business without a valid Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority license or Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics registration during the transition of ownership.
- Prior to the explosion, high levels of carbon dioxide were reported in a neighboring business, and Newman indicated insufficient ventilation at the site before the blast.
- Bassham turned himself in on August 30 but was re-arrested the next day at another allegedly illegal marijuana extraction site, facing additional charges including aggravated manufacturing and trafficking.
