An Oklahoma County prisoner who was discovered dead in his cell over the weekend was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the county, claiming that jail staff tortured him and other detainees by making them listen to the children’s song “Baby Shark” over and over again for hours in 2019.
The 48-year-old John Basco was discovered unconscious in his cell early on Sunday morning, according to a press release from the Oklahoma County Detention Center. After correctional staff started trying to save his life, he was declared dead, they claimed. Basco’s death marks the 14th prisoner fatality at the jail this year. The facility has come under fire for inmate fatalities, escapes, and other issues.
Mark Opgrande, a spokesperson for the jail, said that there were no overt indications of wrongdoing and that investigators will look into the likelihood of a drug overdose. The cause of death will be determined by the State Medical Examiner’s Office.
Basco, who was arrested on Thursday for drug trafficking, is one of many detainees who are suing the county in federal court over claims that they were tied to a wall and had to repeatedly listen to the song “Baby Shark” for hours on end during several instances in 2019. In connection with the occurrences, a prison lieutenant resigned, two detention officers were let go, and all three are now facing criminal charges.
Cameron Spradling, Basco’s attorney, told The Oklahoman that the circumstances of Basco’s death were “disturbing,” and he urged the preservation of all evidence while the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into it progresses.
“I’m really bothered by this,” Spradling said. “One of the ‘Baby Shark’ victims is conveniently dead within three days of his arrival at the jail. How does that happen? District Attorney David Prater just lost one of his witnesses for the upcoming criminal trial. For me, this one does not pass the smell test.”
Oklahoma prison records show Basco had a long history of criminal convictions in Oklahoma County dating back to the mid 1990s, mostly for drug, property and firearms crimes. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a second-degree murder conviction in 2000 and was released in 2007, records show.