The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has released documentation indicating that an Owasso student died by suicide the day after a fight at the high school.
Nex Benedict, 16, who identified as nonbinary and used gender-neutral pronouns, died Feb. 8, one day after being involved in a fight at Owasso High School, police say.
The summary report provided Wednesday by the state medical examiner states that Benedict took a fatal combination of two drugs commonly known as Benadryl and Prozac. A full autopsy report, including toxicology results, has yet to be released.
Benedict’s death became a rallying cry for LGBTQ+ allies after allegations surfaced in mid-February that the Owasso sophomore was fatally injured when beaten by a group of bullies.
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The Owasso Police Department released video footage from a hallway at the high school, as well as a police interview at the hospital, showing that Benedict was not injured fatally in the fight.
A February 2024 video from body camera footage shows an except from the police interview of Nex Benedict after the Owasso sophomore got into a fight with bullies in a school restroom.
When interviewed by a school resource officer, Benedict said the group of freshmen girls had been antagonizing Benedict over a period of weeks. Benedict did not report the bullying to any teachers or administrators, Benedict said, because they had no hope of effecting change.
“I didn’t really see the point of it,” Benedict told the officer.
An Owasso school resource officer told Benedict in the hospital that Benedict would be subject to discipline for assault because they had admitted to pouring water on the bullies, starting the fight.
“From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso Police observed many indications that this death was the result of suicide,” Owasso Police Lt. Nick Boatman said Wednesday in an emailed statement. “However, investigators did not wish to confirm that information without the final results being presented by the Oklahoma Medical Examiners Office.”
The investigation into Benedict’s death remains open, Boatman said, with findings being presented to the district attorney.
“The Owasso Police Department would like to take this moment to inform anyone in crisis or contemplating suicide of the Oklahoma Mental Health Lifeline, just call or text 988,” the Police Department said in a Facebook post.
Owasso Public Schools also mentioned the 988 crisis hotline in a statement from Superintendent Margaret Coates. The district said Wednesday that counseling would be available for students and staff.
“As we mourn together, OPS remains focused on the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” Coates’ statement reads. “Let’s continue to lean on each other in the days ahead.”
A national survey last year by the Trevor Project found that 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth.
The Trevor Project provides confidential counseling and 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth: Text START to 678-678 or go to thetrevorproject.org/get-help.
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Owasso police said a month ago that 16-year-old Nex Benedict “did not die as a result of trauma” the nonbinary student had suffered in a fight at school. An autopsy report indicates Nex committed suicide.
