Authorities have clarified that the tragic death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict, a nonbinary student, was not a direct result of a physical altercation in a school bathroom. The Owasso Police Department, referencing a preliminary autopsy from the medical examiner’s office, stated that the Oklahoma teenager’s demise on February 8 was not due to injuries from the fight that occurred the day prior.
The investigation remains open, pending further results from toxicology and additional tests to ascertain the exact cause of death. Benedict, who embraced they/them pronouns and was known to their family as nonbinary, reportedly faced a confrontation at Owasso High School that may have been ignited by bullying related to their gender identity.
The family, through their legal representatives, alleged that Benedict was assaulted by several students in a bathroom incident, which they believe led to their child’s untimely death the following day. The ongoing police investigation aims to uncover the details surrounding the fight and to present the findings to the district attorney’s office for a decision on potential charges.
Despite being able to leave the scene of the altercation, Benedict was later hospitalized by their family and discharged the same evening, only to experience a “medical emergency” that led to their death the next day. Benedict’s mother recounted to the Independent the visible injuries her child bore following the scuffle with three older students.
The altercation, which was eventually interrupted by two students and a school staff member, resulted in Benedict being advised to seek medical attention, during which they were interviewed by law enforcement. Further details emerged from Benedict’s text messages to a family member, shared with Fox 23, where the teen described the bullying they and their friends faced, culminating in the fateful confrontation.
The school’s handling of the incident and the subsequent legal implications remain under scrutiny as the community mourns the loss of a young life and calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this tragic event.
