The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office announced on Wednesday that the death of a nonbinary student, which happened the day after a fight in a high school restroom, has been determined to be a suicide.
Police Investigation on Nex Benedict's Death
Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old student at Owasso High School, passed away in February, sparking concern from LGBTQ+ rights groups, as well as garnering attention from Oklahoma's governor and the White House.
According to Owasso Police Department Lt. Nick Boatman, indications pointed towards suicide from the outset of the investigation. However, confirmation was awaited from the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office.
The summary autopsy report, released over a month after Benedict's death, discloses toxic levels of two drugs in their system, leading to an overdose. A thorough autopsy report will be released in compliance with state law in ten days, as announced by the medical examiner's office.
Although Boatman didn't confirm the presence of a note from Benedict at the scene, Jacob Biby, a lawyer representing Benedict's family, declined to provide further comments, stating that he was working on a statement from the family.
Benedict was conscious and communicative after the Feb. 7 altercation, where they informed the police about the attack by three girls that followed after Benedict squirted them with water.
Video footage from the hospital on the day of the incident shows Benedict explaining to an officer that they and their friends were being bullied by the girls due to their attire.
Paramedics performed CPR at Benedict's family home before rushing them to the hospital, where they later passed away.
Brandon Dilawari, a case manager at Rainbow Youth Project USA, highlighted the significant impact of bullying and harassment on students, emphasizing that many feel suicide is their only recourse for peace.
The group noted a surge in calls to its national crisis hotline from Oklahoma following news of Benedict's death.
Cause of Death of Nex Benedict
According to friends and family, Nex had faced bullying at school due to his gender identity.
Body-camera footage released by police shows Nex lying in a hospital bed hours after the school fight, explaining to an officer how three students attacked him after he threw water on them in response to their bullying.
Initial data from an autopsy report implied Nex's death was not due to trauma. However, the medical examiner lists the plausible cause of passing as "combined toxicity" from two drugs, one available over the counter and the other by prescription.
The Owasso Police Department, in an announcement on Facebook, noted that implications of suicide were noticed early in the investigation but awaited verification from the medical examiner's office.
Margaret Coates, the superintendent for Owasso Public Schools, recognized Nex's cause of death and encouraged learners to look for counseling.
Students at Owasso High School arranged a walkout to oppose bullying, which they described as extensive and often unpunished.
LGBTQ advocates have highlighted the excessive rates of suicidal ideation among queer youths, particularly trans and nonbinary individuals.
Following Nex's death, the Department of Education opened an investigation into whether the high school failed to respond accordingly to sex-based harassment. The Human Rights Campaign has called for additional investigation into Nex's death.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org. LGBTQ young people in crisis can call the TrevorLifeline at 1-866-488-7386 or the Rainbow Youth Project at 1-317-643-4888.
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