Oklahoma non-binary Nex Benedict died by suicide from a drug overdose, not from injuries sustained in a school fight, a doctor has confirmed.
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s report said Benedict’s death was caused by a combined overdose of Diphenhydramine and Fluoxetine, according to News on the 6th.
Nex, 16, who was born Dagny, died on February 8, just one day after suffering head trauma in a bathroom fight at Owasso High School, Oklahoma.
Their death became a rallying point for trans and LGBT activists across the country – and several vigils and walkouts were organized to remember the student.
Nex’s biological grandmother and legal guardian, Sue Benedict, told The Independent that her child has been repeatedly bullied by various students for over a year because of their non-binary identity.
Oklahoma non-binary Nex Benedict reportedly died of suicide from a drug overdose, not from injuries sustained in a school fight, according to doctor
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s report said Benedict’s death was caused by a combined overdose of Diphenhydramine and Fluoxetine the day after they were hospitalized for a fight
‘Nex was attacked and assaulted in a bathroom by a group of other students. A day later, Benedikt’s beautiful child lost his life, the family said in a statement.
The police department released a statement Wednesday: ‘From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso police observed many indications that this death was the result of suicide.
‘However, investigators did not want to confirm this information without the final results being presented by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s report has now been released.
‘Owasso Police would like to take this moment to inform anyone in crisis or contemplating suicide about the Oklahoma Mental Health Lifeline, just call or text 988.’
Bodycam footage was previously released following the account Nex gave police describing the attack by ‘thugs’ in a school bathroom the day before they died.
The 21-minute interview, conducted at the Owasso hospital just two hours after the Feb. 7 game, detailed the events leading up to the altercation before Nex was discharged.
Officer Caleb Thompson spoke to the 16-year-old, accompanied by their mother, Sue.
“So what happened today?” Officer Thompson asked.
“I got jumped,” Nex replied, before Sue interjects and tells the officer about Nex’s complaints of constant bullying.
“(Nex) said mom, these three girls there, they’re making comments, they’re calling us names, they’re throwing things at us,” she said.
Bodycam footage revealed the account Nex gave police describing the attack by ‘thugs’ in a school bathroom the day before they died
Their death became a rallying point for trans and LGBT activists across the country – and several vigils were organized to remember the student
People chant during a vigil for Nex Benedict’s death outside the Stonewall Inn in New York
“(Nex) did until (they) couldn’t, in the bathroom,” Sue told the officer.
Nex then described the provocation, recalling how the girls ridiculed them before Nex poured water on them.
“They said something like ‘why are they laughing like that’ and they talked about us in front of us,” Nex told Thompson. ‘So I went up and poured water on them and they all three came towards me.’
Officer Thompson appeared to dissuade Nex and their mother from pursuing charges, warning them of potential legal ramifications for both parties involved.
He questions Nex about their decision not to report the girls’ actions to school officials, to which Nex replies, ‘I didn’t see the point. I told my mother.’
“You have freedom of speech,” the officer said. “The moment you threw water on them, you made the first stab. It might not go the way you want it to.’
‘Unfortunately, running your mouth is freedom of speech,’ adds the officer. “You can say mean, hurtful things all day long and you have to let it roll off your shoulder.”
Sue asked: ‘What about because there were three of them and (Nex) only threw water on one.’
Thompson claimed that regardless of the girl’s actions, Nex started the fight, causing a ‘domino effect’ of events. He claimed both Nex and the girls as both ‘victims’ and ‘suspects’.
Officer Thompson appeared to dissuade Nex and their mother from pursuing charges, warning them of potential legal ramifications for both parties involved
People gather outside the Stonewall Inn for a memorial and vigil for the Oklahoma teenager who died after a fight in a high school bathroom
A walkout for Nex Benedict at Owasso High School on Monday, February 26th
Sue expressed displeasure with the school’s handling of the situation and urged Thompson to inquire about the delay in alerting the authorities.
“They dropped the ball on this one and didn’t notify me right away,” Thompson said.
Sue said: ‘Those girls started everything from scratch.’
Nex described in text to their family what happened before they were taken to the hospital before they died.
‘I was jumped at school. 3 on 1, had to go to the ER,” Nex wrote, adding, “They had been bullying me and my friends and I got fed up with it so I poured some water on them and all 3 came after me. The school did not report to the police.’
Officers investigating Nex’s death said they were called to the hospital by the teenager’s family around 6 p.m. 3:00 p.m. on February 7, but that the school had not made a 911 call.
Nex was asked by the family member if they were okay and the teenager replied saying they were ‘all good’ and had some scrapes and bruises. They also added: ‘If I’m dizzy or nauseous in the morning, I could be concussed.’
Sue said she was aware that Nex, who she said saw himself as neither male nor female, was being bullied for being gender fluid, but that she ‘didn’t know how bad it had gotten’.
‘I was so proud of Nex. They had to go somewhere, they were so free,’ she said.