Oklahoma THC Plant Owner Charged with Murder After Explosion Kills 2, Flees Arrest

A "massive explosion" at Solos Extract Co. in Sand Springs, Oklahoma killed two men after the owner allegedly defied a fire marshal shutdown order. Owner Ryan Bassham now faces two murder charges and is believed to be evading arrest.

Oklahoma THC Extraction Facility Explosion Kills Two; Owner Charged with Murder and Believed Fleeing

Two men are dead and the owner of an Oklahoma cannabis extraction business faces two counts of first-degree murder following a "massive explosion" at his Sand Springs facility, Law & Crime reports.

Ryan Bassham, owner of Solos Extract Co. at 421 S. Lincoln Ave., is believed to be actively evading arrest, according to Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler.

"We have reason to believe he may be attempting to avoid arrest," Kunzweiler told local NBC affiliate KJRH. "If anyone has knowledge as to his whereabouts, contact local law enforcement."

The Sand Springs Fire Department responded around 1 a.m. to the blaze at the industrial complex. Crews found heavy flames erupting from the building upon arrival. One person was pronounced dead at the scene; a second was transported to hospital, where he also died. Police have not yet publicly identified either victim.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe into the explosion, which authorities say was chemically related. Solos Extract Co. was using highly flammable gases — including butane or propane — to extract THC from cannabis.

The fire marshal had ordered the business to cease operations the previous week following a failed fire inspection, according to the Tulsa World. Sand Springs Deputy Police Chief Todd Enzbrenner told the newspaper the directive was unambiguous.

"He basically told them they weren't allowed to work until they fixed the discrepancies that he listed," Enzbrenner said, "and they have not done that up to this point."

Local Fox KOKI reporter Devyn Lyon reported that one of the victims had been living inside the building and was killed when the blast occurred.

The explosion caused extensive collateral damage, destroying or damaging at least 25 neighboring businesses. The force of the blast was felt up to 30 miles away, per KJRH. Photographs from the scene showed the warehouse reduced to rubble, with debris scattered across the property.

"I was scared to death, I didn't know what had happened," a neighbor said. "The whole roof is blown off on half of that building. It looks like somebody peeled a banana."

Court records confirm Bassham has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities are asking anyone with information about his location to contact local law enforcement.

Source: Law & Crime