The family of 16-year-old non-binary student Nex Benedict has issued an independent statement after initial autopsy results show the boy did not die from injuries sustained during a fight in the school bathroom. An investigation has begun.
The University of Oklahoma sophomore died on Feb. 8, a day after an altercation that may have been sparked by bullying about Nex’s gender identity.
Benedict’s mother, Sue, told the Independent She said her child had been bullied by other Owasso High School students for more than a year and had bruises all over his face after a fight with three older girls.
In a statement released by their lawyer, the family called on police to “completely, fairly and expeditiously investigate all potentially responsible parties,” the report said.
AP
“The family is independently interviewing witnesses and gathering all available evidence,” the statement said.
The family said some facts about the incident have not been made public and are “not least troubling,” adding, “The school, local government, the state, He called on national authorities to cooperate,” The Independent reported.
They are calling for “those responsible to be held accountable and to ensure that this never happens again.”
“On February 7, 2024, the Benedict family sent their child, Nex Benedict, to Owasso High School, believing that any parent or family member should be able to do so,” Bibi Law Firm said in a previous statement. ” he said.A safe environment for your loved ones
“While attending Owasso High School, Ms. Nex was attacked and assaulted in the bathroom by a group of other students. The next day, Benedict’s beautiful child lost her life,” it added.
Benedict told the newspaper that when he arrived at the school, he found the child with bruises on his face and eyes and a scratch on the back of his head.
The boy told his mother that he was thrown to the ground and hit his head on the floor.
The Tulsa-area school district did not report the incident to police and determined that no students required emergency medical treatment, the newspaper reported.
“Further comment regarding the cause of death is pending pending toxicology results and other ancillary test results,” police said. The official autopsy report will be released at a later date. ”
The investigation into the fight is ongoing, and police said they will submit their findings to the District Attorney’s Office to determine whether charges are warranted.
Benedict was able to flee the fighting on February 7 on foot, but was later taken to hospital by his family and returned home that night. The next day, police said the boy had a “medical emergency” and died after arriving at the hospital.
Officials said the student sent a message to his family about the fight. Reported by Fox23.
When asked what started the fight, Benedict cited harassment at school.
“They were bullying me and my friends and I got fed up so I poured water on them and all three of them came after me. The school didn’t report it so they’ll probably get sued.” one of the texts read.
