Nex Benedict died on February 8, 2024, the day after an altercation in the girls’ bathroom at their school, Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma. Nex had been bullied prior to the fight on February 7th, reporting that they had suffered name-calling as well as physical bullying, and specifying that it was in response to their nonbinary identity.

In the incident on February 7th, 2024, Nex entered the girls’ bathroom at Owasso High School with a friend and was confronted by three older girls, who Nex says began making fun of the way Nex was dressed. Due to Oklahoma laws, Nex had to use the girls’ restroom since it was the gender assigned to them at birth. In reaction to the taunts, Nex says they splashed water on one of the girls who was making fun of them, and then a physical altercation happened. During the fight, Nex was pushed to the ground and had their head hit repeatedly against the floor.

After the fight, Owasso High School officials claim all students left the restroom under their own power and were seen on camera walking to the nursing office. Nex’s grandmother, Sue Benedict, says that the school did not call authorities or call for medical assistance. The school states they suggested at least one student be checked medically due to an “abundance of caution.” However, the school itself did not call for help or report it to authorities, and Nex was suspended for two weeks for their actions in the altercation.

Later, Nex was taken to the hospital by their grandmother, Sue Benedict. Sue states that bruising was visible on Nex's head and face.

The police were called to the hospital and released limited/edited bodycam footage. It shows Nex talking about the altercation, and stating they wanted to make a report. The police are heard trying to discourage the report, stating that it would mean charges against Nex could also be made for splashing water on the girl. Nex still wanted to press charges.

That night (February 7th), Nex was released from the hospital with visible bruising, according to Sue Benedict. The next day, Nex collapsed suddenly at home. An ambulance was called, but Nex had stopped breathing before EMS arrived, and they were declared dead at the hospital later.

At first, police report that there is no evidence that trauma from the fight led to Nex’s death, but a full autopsy has not been released. Additional attention from the media and public have raised many questions as to the cause of death, whether the school’s response was appropriate, or if criminal charges should be sought.

As more reports are made and more information becomes available, please post links to proper sources here, and use this thread to discuss Nex’s death.

Basic sources:

Wikipedia Article

EDITED TO ADD on 25 Feb 2024: There is some confusion on whether or not Nex knew the three girls. In the body cam footage, Nex says that the three girls had been bullying them over the last week AND that Nex didn't really know them. For now, I'm going to assume this is because people often refer to others as in "didn't really know" but mean that they know their identity, just are not close friends. Here is a post with a link to the Washington Post article I'm referencing.

Article dated 24 Feb 2024: In this article, Nex's grandmother is noted to misgender Nex, referring to them as she/her. It describes the 911 call made on the day of Nex's death, where Nex's grandmother states Nex began to have shallow breathing and their eyes were rolling back, requesting emergency help. (added to original post 25 Feb 2024)

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