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The state Medical Examiner’s autopsy report has determined that Nex Benedict, a nonbinary student from Oklahoma, died by suicide.
Based on the report obtained by The Independent on Wednesday, the 16-year-old’s cause of death was determined to be suicide. The likely reason given was the toxic combination of Diphenhydramine and Fluoxetine.
Benadryl and Prozac are familiar names for Diphenhydramine and Fluoxetine, respectively.
On February 7th, a youth was violently attacked and rendered unconscious in a bathroom at Owasso High School in Oklahoma. Tragically, they passed away the next day.
The Owasso Police Department has officially announced the cause of Nex’s death. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the department stated that throughout their investigation, they noticed several factors pointing to suicide as the cause of death.
“Nevertheless, the authorities preferred to withhold confirmation of the information until the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office released the final results. The report from the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office has now been disclosed publicly.”
The Owasso Police Department is providing notice of the availability of the Oklahoma Mental Health Lifeline to anyone who may be in crisis or considering suicide. You can contact the lifeline by calling or texting 988.
According to the Owasso Police Department, Nex passed away the day after a confrontation with three girls inside a school restroom. Nex’s family, who use the pronouns them/they, reported that Nex sustained critical head injuries during the altercation.
The young person fainted at their residence the day after the event and was later declared deceased at the hospital.
The state Medical Examiner’s report stated that the cause of death for the 16-year-old was determined to be suicide.
According to Nex’s mother, Sue Benedict, Nex was subjected to bullying at school due to openly identifying as nonbinary. Ms. Benedict stated that the harassment began in the 2023 academic year following the passing of a bill by Republican state legislators mandating that students in public schools use bathrooms that correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificates.
The family had stated that they were conducting their own inquiry into the death and were disturbed by the circumstances of the case.
“I am deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Nex Benedict,” stated Gentner Drummond, Attorney General of Oklahoma, on Wednesday. The conclusion of the Medical Examiner that it was a suicide only heightens my worries that bullying may have been a contributing factor in this tragic event.
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According to experts, factors such as social media, bullying, and other influences are contributing to a rise in suicides among young individuals, especially those who are marginalized and have experienced trauma.
Addressing this issue involves potentially enacting stronger regulations against bullying and placing more importance on access to mental health support. Most crucially, it involves not tolerating the unkind words and behaviors that are frequently inflicted upon our younger generations by fellow students, adults, and automated systems.
The passing of Nex has sparked criticism of Oklahoma legislators, as they have proposed over 50 bills targeting LGBTQ issues during the current legislative session. LGBTQ organizations within the state have connected Nex’s death to the increase in hateful speech and laws specifically targeting transgender individuals.
Nex’s death was characterized as a “hate crime” by Freedom Oklahoma, who pointed to the “venomous messages promoted by officials in our state” and extremist figures on social media.
In February, after Nex’s passing, over twelve previous classmates conducted a demonstration to denounce bullying and stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community at their school.
As they gathered at an intersection near the school in the Tulsa suburbs, students and advocates held signs that read “You Are Loved” and “Protect Queer Kids.”
“Within this city, there is a community that exists and is seen and loved,” stated KTUL in an interview with Cassidy Brown, a graduate from Owasso who organized the event.
Amid vigils held throughout the state of Oklahoma and in Los Angeles, New York, and Texas, a protest took place to honor Nex’s memory.
GLAAD, a group advocating for LGBTQ rights, made a statement condemning the horrific year of LGBTQ harassment and physical assault Nex Benedict faced in the school bathroom. They express their disgust and shame over these acts.
The president of the Human Rights Campaign, Kelley Robinson, expressed that parents trust that their children will be protected and supported while at school. Sadly, in Nex’s case, there were multiple failures and he should still be with us today.
“Our thoughts are with their family as they cope with the difficult reality of losing their beloved child, a teenager who had a promising future ahead. Nex passed away the day after being brutally attacked and rendered unconscious in a school bathroom, after enduring over a year of bullying and mistreatment at school. This is a devastating and tragic situation.”
We have received numerous reports from parents and students that the issue of bullying and harassment is widespread at Owasso Public Schools. Many individuals within the school were aware of this problem, but did not take action to address it.
“We stand by our request for a thorough and comprehensive inquiry. Students in both Oklahoma and nationwide have the right to a secure and respectful learning environment.”
A 2022 study by the Human Rights Campaign found that 58% of LGBT+ youth in Oklahoma feel unsafe while at school. The survey also revealed that less than half of trans and gender nonconforming students in Oklahoma believe that their teachers and staff care about them, compared to two-thirds of trans youth in other states.
The Trevor Project conducted a youth survey in 2022 and discovered that 48% of Oklahoma’s LGBT+ youth have thought about suicide in the past year. This includes 55% of transgender and nonbinary youth.
The report stated that 16% of LGBTQ+ youth living in the state have attempted suicide, with 20% of transgender and nonbinary youth included in this statistic.
Source: independent.co.uk
