Anna Codutti

Tulsa World, Okla.

(TNS)

A Tulsa man is facing murder charges in connection with a fatal explosion at a Sand Springs marijuana extraction business.

Ryan Bassham, 35, turned himself in to the authorities Sunday after the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office filed an arrest warrant for him Friday, according to the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation.

Bassham was released later Sunday from Tulsa County jail after posting bond, which totaled $2 million for the two counts of felony murder in the first degree in the commission of a crime.

Two people died in the explosion around 1:15 a.m. Aug. 27 at Solos Extract Co. in the Morrow-Gill business complex.

The listed owner of Solos Extract Co. reportedly told investigators that he had sold the business to Bassham, according to a probable cause affidavit in the case.

A business license from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority may be sold and transferred, but it's still incumbent on the purchaser to obtain a registration with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics to operate under an OMMA license.

"A new OBN registration would have to be granted to Bassham prior to Bassham beginning to operate, which did not happen," the affidavit states. "Therefore, since Bassham did not possess a valid OMMA license or OBN registration, Bassham was illegally manufacturing controlled dangerous substances."

Under Oklahoma state law, deaths that occur in the commission of such a crime are prosecuted as felony murder.

To make medical marijuana concentrates, processors may employ hydrocarbon extraction, often using flammable gases such as butane or propane. OMMA-licensed processors are required to obtain a certificate of compliance in regards to zoning, safety, fire, building and other applicable local ordinances. Sand Springs Fire Marshal Michael Nobles inspected Solos Extract Co. in January, according to the affidavit.

Nobles told investigators after the explosion that he instructed the business to disconnect marijuana extraction equipment on site after observing deficiencies including an outdated fire suppression system.

When revisiting the business after the explosion, Nobles said he observed equipment and hazardous material that was not present during the January inspection, including "a large amount of liquid propane."

About two months prior to the explosion, a business owner adjacent to Solos Extract Co. in the Morrow-Gill business complex said he noticed "extremely high" levels of carbon dioxide. He said when he went to talk to Bassham about the CO2, he became light-headed while inside Solos Extract Co.

The affidavit identifies the two men who were killed, with confirmation pending from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The man who died later at a Tulsa hospital reportedly told a first responder "that he unplugged something and the building blew up."

Authorities are seeking information as the investigation into the explosion continues. Anyone with knowledge that could help investigators is asked to contact the OSBI tip line at [email protected] or 1-800-522-8017.

In addition to the OSBI, responding agencies included Sand Springs Police Department; the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the state Fire Marshal’s Office; Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics; the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office; the state Department of Emergency Management; the state Medical Examiner’s Office; and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority.

Neither victim of the fatal explosion has been named by authorities.

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