A complaint filed against Oklahoma County claims that an inmate who was discovered dead in his cell over the weekend was subjected to hours of torture in 2019 by jail staff who made him and other prisoners listen to the children’s song “Baby Shark” over and over again.
According to a news statement from the Oklahoma County Detention Center, John Basco, 48, was discovered unconscious in his cell early on Sunday morning. After jail staff started trying to save his life, they claimed, he was declared dead. Basco’s death marks the 14th inmate fatality at the institution this year, which has been under fire for inmate fatalities, escapes, and other issues.
The likelihood of a drug overdose will be investigated, according to jail spokesman Mark Opgrande, who claimed there were no overt indications of wrongdoing. The office of the State Medical Examiner will ascertain the cause of death.
Basco, who was arrested on a drug trafficking charge on Thursday, is one of several detainees who are suing the county in federal court for allegedly being tied to a wall and made to endure hours of the song “Baby Shark” on loop throughout various occurrences throughout 2019. The occurrences led to the retirement of a jail lieutenant and the firing of two detention officers; all three are now facing misdemeanour 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.”
According to jail records in Oklahoma, Basco has a long history of convictions dating back to the mid-1990s in Oklahoma County, most frequently for offences involving drugs, property, and firearms. According to documents, he was convicted of second-degree murder in 2000 and given a 10-year prison sentence. He was eventually freed in 2007.
