Authorities have not ruled out that a fight at school may have contributed to the death of nonbinary teen Nex Benedict — who died a day after getting beaten by bullies in an Oklahoma high school bathroom.
Owasso police provided some clarification to their initial statement saying that Benedict “did not die as a result of trauma,” telling NBC News on Tuesday that the medical examiner’s office did not say it had ruled out the fight as a contributing factor in the 16-year-old’s Feb. 8 death.
Lt. Nick Boatman said that the statement came from “preliminary information” from the medical examiner’s office and did not mean injuries Benedict may have sustained in the fight didn’t cause his death.
Nex Benedict, 16, died on Feb. 8 after getting into a fight at school the day before. AP“We did not interpret that in any way,” Boatman said of the word “trauma,” which was the word used by the medical examiner’s office.
“People shouldn’t make assumptions either way,” he added.
The department does not usually release this kind of information so early but had hoped to combat a “fury of misinformation on social media” as the case has garnered an immense amount of attention, Boatman explained.
Police released bodycam footage of Benedict recounting the events that led to the brawl, as well as 911 audio from the day Benedict died, in hopes of addressing similar misinformation about the case.
The police department does not have a timeline for when it will receive toxicology results, Boatman said, noting that results could take several months to come in.
Police clarified their initial statement, saying the medical examiner’s office did not say it had ruled out the fight as a contributing factor to the teen’s death. SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
Police shared bodycam footage and 911 audio involving the case to try and combat misinformation. APNo charges have been filed and no arrests have been made in the case.
Benedict, who identified as nonbinary according to their family, died on Feb. 8 — a day after getting into a fight that may have been sparked by bullying about their gender identity.
Dozens of students and teachers walked out of Owasso High School Monday to protest the bullying of Benedict and the school’s lack of response when it comes to the mistreatment of students.
It’s unclear when the police will receive the toxicology results. AP
Vigils have been held for the teen across the US. Molly Young/The Oklahoman / USA TODAY NETWORKVigils and memorials for the teen have also sprung up across Oklahoma and the US.
Benedict’s family has launched an independent investigation into the teen’s death.
