Nonbinary student Nex Benedict di*ed by su*icide when the teen overdosed on dru*gs the day after getting into a fight with classmates inside an Oklahoma high school bathroom, the state medical examiner revealed Wednesday.
The 16-year-old had toxic levels of two drugs in their system, the medical examiner determined.
“From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso Police observed many indications that this de*ath was the result of sui*cide,” Lt. Nick Boatman said in a statement.
“However, investigators did not wish to confirm that information without the final results being presented by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office.”
Boatman would not say if a note from Benedict was found at the scene.
The de*ath of Benedict, who used they/them pronouns, gained national attention following a Feb. 7 brawl between the teen and girls in a bathroom that sent Benedict to the hospital.
Authorities initially said last month that a preliminary autopsy report stated that Benedict did not die as a result of trauma from the fight as the school district and community faced immense scrutiny over their handling of the case.
Students protested the bullying of Benedict, and the US Education Department launched an investigation into Owasso Public School after multiple complaints were filed by the Human Rights Campaign alleging district officials “failed to respond appropriately to sex-based harassment to sex-based harassment that may have contributed to the tragic de*ath of Nex Benedict.”
Benedict was conscious and alert as they described to police what happened after the brawl.
The teen said they squirted water at the three girls before the trio started beating them, according to a police video released last month.
Benedict told an officer the girls had been picking on them and their friends because of how they dressed, and also claimed the girls said “something like, ‘Why do they laugh like that,” referring to Benedict and their friends.
“And so I went up there and I poured water on them, and then all three of them came at me,” Benedict explained from their hospital bed.
The next day, Benedict’s mother called authorities for help after her child’s breathing was shallow, their eyes were rolled back and hands were curled, according to released audio.
During the 911 call, Sue Benedict said she was worried about a head injury as she relayed information to first responders.
Benedict was rushed to the hospital where they were later pronounced de*ad.
Their full autopsy report will be released in 10 days, per state law.
