The tragic death of Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old nonbinary student in Oklahoma, has been confirmed as a result of suicide, according to an autopsy report released on Wednesday. Nex passed away a day after a physical altercation in a high school girls’ bathroom, sparking outrage from gay and transgender rights groups who cited reports of bullying.
The autopsy report revealed that Nex had a “combined toxicity” of diphenhydramine and fluoxetine, indicating a deliberate overdose. Reports of the altercation at Owasso High School on Feb. 7, followed by Nex’s death at home the next day, raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Initially, the cause of death remained unclear, with Nex reporting in a police interview that they had “blacked out” during the fight. The Owasso Police Department stated that no police report had been made about the bathroom incident until after Nex was taken to the hospital by relatives.
Despite suspicions from investigators that Nex’s death was a result of suicide, the department refrained from commenting until the medical examiner had completed a full forensic review. Lt. Nick Boatman of the Owasso Police Department stated, “From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso Police observed many indications that this death was the result of suicide. However, investigators did not wish to confirm that information without the final results being presented by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office.”
The release of the autopsy report has brought some closure to the case, but questions still remain about the circumstances leading up to Nex’s tragic death. The family’s lawyer has not yet commented on the findings, leaving the community mourning the loss of a young life and grappling with the impact of bullying and mental health struggles.
