Oklahoma Inmate Who Was Forced To Listen 'Baby Shark' Song On Loop Found Dead In Jail

An Oklahoma County inmate, who in a 2019 lawsuit filed against the county accused prison officers of torturing him and other inmates by forcing them to listen to the children's song 'Baby Shark' continuously for hours, was found dead in his cell over the weekend.

John Basco, 48, was found unresponsive in his cell in the Oklahoma County Detention Centre at around 3:50am on Sunday, Sep. 11.

Authorities said said officers tried to resuscitate Basco until emergency responders arrived, but their efforts were in vain.

He was pronounced dead shortly after 4.06am, according to a press release.

Prison spokesman Mark Opgrande said there were no obvious signs of foul play and an investigation has been launched into the incident, reports said.

"One of the possibilities being investigated is that it was a drug overdose," he told The Oklahoman.

Basco was among the four jail inmates suing the county, accusing former detention officers Gregory Cornell Butler Jr and Christian Charles Miles of forcing them to listen to Baby Shark on repeat whilst handcuffed to a wall of a detention centre.

Former Lieutenant Christopher Raymond Hendershott was also sued for doing nothing to stop the officers even after learning about the 2019 incident.

Lt Hendershott retired and the two officers were fired. All three were charged with misdemeanour counts of cruelty to a prisoner and conspiracy.

The hearing of an additional lawsuit against Oklahoma County commissioners and Sheriff Tommie Johnson III, is scheduled for Sep. 22.

Describing the circumstances around his client's death as "disturbing," Basco's lawyer Cameron Spradling has called for "all evidence [to be] preserved immediately" as the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation probe unfolds.

"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," he said.

Basco, who was booked into the jail on Sep. 7 on drug trafficking charges.