Owner charged with murder after deadly marijuana factory explodes
A massive explosion in a cannabis facility in Sand Springs, Oklahoma has resulted in two deaths. The blast was so huge it blew the roof off the building and damaged 25 surrounding buildings.
A blast heard 40 miles away
The THC facility's massive explosion happened at 1:30 a.m. It was so huge and loud that it could be felt up to 40 miles away, according to residents and eyewitnesses.
"It was like around 1:20, 1:25. And it was just a big boom," said local man Donovan Ruffin, who lives a mile away from the blast. "Me and my wife woke up at the same time. And as soon as I heard it, I woke up… I have a window right by my bed, so I seen a flash."
Owner of facility arrested
According to reports, the owner of the THC facility, Ryan Bassham, 35, of Tulsa, was later arrested on first-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths.
Bassham turned himself in on Aug. 30 after the arrest warrant was issued. He was later released after he posted a $2 million bond.
A week before the deadly explosion, the company had been told to cease all operations because it failed a fire inspection. The preliminary findings of the investigation said that the explosion "was the result of an active marijuana manufacturing event."
A scary fireball
Not only was the blast heard and felt many miles away, but it was so big that it created a fireball that lit up the night sky.
Firefighters extinguishing the blaze found the first victim, Stephen Scott, dead at the scene. A second victim, Michael Newman, was rescued with severe injuries but later died at the hospital.
According to the affidavit, Newman spoke to an EMT on the way to the hospital and said the extraction company was "not ventilated enough" and that "he unplugged something and the building blew up."
As of now, there's no word on whether Bassham will represent himself or if he has retained an attorney.
