Full Breakdown
Oklahoma Marijuana Extraction Facility Explosion Leads to Murder Charges
9/1/2026, 9:46:30 PM
The Fatal Blast and Immediate Aftermath
On August 27 a powerful explosion ripped through the Morrow-Gill Business Complex at 411 S. Lincoln Ave. in Sand Springs shortly after 1 a.m. The blast damaged at least 20 nearby businesses, with debris reaching a Planet Fitness location on Main Street.
Legal Actions Against Ryan Bassham
Ryan Bassham, owner of Solos Extracts LLC, was identified as the primary suspect. A felony arrest warrant for two counts of first-degree murder was issued on August 27 and Bassham turned himself in to the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office on August 30, 2026, where he was booked into the Tulsa County Jail. He posted a $2 million bond, paying the required 10 percent ($200,000) to secure release.
On August 31, 2026, agents with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics arrested Bassham in Creek County on additional charges tied to an illegal marijuana grow and processing facility near Kellyville, including firearms offenses, manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance, and marijuana trafficking.
Background on Facility Operations and Safety Concerns
Court documents and fire-marshal reports indicate that Solos Extracts was operating without a valid Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) license or Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) registration at the time of the blast. Fire Marshal Mike Nobles ordered the facility to cease operations about a week before the explosion after it failed a fire inspection. A January certificate-of-compliance inspection had found no hazardous materials, but investigators later discovered large quantities of liquid propane and other equipment not present during that inspection.
Neighbors reported that a shared-wall business detected extremely high carbon-dioxide levels two months before the blast; the owner warned Bassham, who allegedly responded, “I’ve got to go,” before ending the call.
Official Statements & Responses
District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said investigators believe Bassham may have been attempting to evade law enforcement.
Fire Marshal Mike Nobles reiterated that the facility had been ordered to stop operating after failing a fire inspection and that the presence of liquid propane and other hazardous materials was a key factor in the investigation.
On-the-Ground Accounts
“The one night I slept through the night, I had 40 missed calls from my buddy and I instantly woke up literally just shaking because that's my life in there,” — Josh Cordell, Americore Lawn Care
“We went to go check it out and there is glass all over the floor. I stepped out and there's fire trucks everywhere and there is a ball of fire coming out at the other end of the buildings that I stay in,” — Sharron Lancaster
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of neighboring businesses damaged, citing “more than 20” versus “at least 25.” The bond amount is consistently reported as $2 million, but the proportion posted varies between a full payment and a 10 percent deposit. No attorney for Bassham has been identified in court records, and the precise cause of the explosion—whether a chemical reaction, equipment failure, or improper handling of propane—remains under investigation.
Timeline
- August 27: Explosion at Solos Extracts; two deaths; extensive property damage.
- August 30, 2026: Bassham surrenders, is booked, and posts bond.
- August 31, 2026: Additional drug-related charges filed in Creek County; arrest by Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
What’s Next
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the State Fire Marshal’s office continue to investigate the cause of the blast and any further regulatory violations. Court proceedings on the murder and drug-related charges are pending.
