An autopsy report released Wednesday, March 13, has revealed that Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old nonbinary student from Oklahoma, died by suicide after an altercation in a high school bathroom. The medical examiner found that Benedict succumbed to “combined toxicity” from medications commonly used to treat allergies and depression.
The Feb. 7 incident at Owasso High School led to widespread condemnation from LGBTQ rights groups, who highlighted the issue of bullying at the school. The Owasso Police Department, which had been waiting for the autopsy results to confirm the cause of death amid initial uncertainty, stated that a report on the bathroom altercation was only filed after Benedict was taken to the hospital by relatives on the same day.
Prior to the release of the autopsy findings, police officials noted that preliminary results indicated Benedict did not die from physical injuries sustained in the fight.
An Owasso Police Department spokesman revealed that right from the start, investigators believed the tragic death of Nex was a case of suicide.
“From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso Police observed many indications that this death was the result of suicide,” Lt. Nick Boatman stated. “However, investigators did not wish to confirm that information without the final results being presented by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office.”
In an interview recorded on video with a school resource officer after the fight, Nex, who described how the conflict started: three girls mocked Nex and their friends over their clothing. Nex responded by pouring water on the girls.
“Then all three of them came at me,” Nex explained in the interview.
