Oklahoma Marijuana Farm — Four people were discovered dead and one injured at a marijuana farm in rural Oklahoma; authorities have “a suspect in mind,” but no arrests have been made. After authorities responded to a reported hostage situation at the farm, the bodies were discovered.
Capt. Stan Florence of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said authorities believe the suspect knew the victims, who were found dead Sunday night at the 10-acre farm west of Hennessey, about 55 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.
“They all know each other,” Florence said. “Don’t know if they’re related, or if they’re coworkers, but certainly these individuals were, we believe, all familiar with each other.”
The OSBI said it is investigating a hostage situation that turned deadly Sunday night. https://t.co/DeRhKktZBv
— News 9 (@NEWS9) November 21, 2022
On tuesday afternoon, police described the victims as having been “executed,” but did not identify the victims or say how they were killed. Police confirmed that the victims were three men and one woman, according to reported hostage situation CBS affiliate KWTV, and all four were Chinese nationals.
The injured person was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital. The case is being investigated as a quadruple homicide. Next-of-kin notifications are pending, police said, because of a “significant language barrier.”
The Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to a reported hostage situation at the farm but requested help from state authorities, Florence said.
“At this point, we have a suspect in mind,” Florence told reporters Monday at the property. “We have no information specific to be able to share … at this point.”
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said releasing the person’s name right now would put more people in danger.
“The suspect was inside that building for a significant amount of time before the executions began,” OSBI said in a news release Tuesday. “Based on the investigation thus far, this does not appear to be a random incident.”
Investigators don’t believe the suspect is still on the property after an extensive ground and air search, KWTV reported.
Police searched the property late Sunday and Monday using drones, helicopters and on the ground, Florence said, but did not find the suspect.
“There’s a lot to unravel with this case,” he said. “It’ll take a little time for us to process it.”
Porsha Riley, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, said there is an active license for a medical marijuana grow business at the location.
Oklahoma voters legalized medical marijuana in 2018 and the industry quickly boomed, thanks to an open-ended law that put in place fewer restrictions than in other states.
In March, voters will decide whether to legalize the recreational use of the drug.
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