Nex Benedict Killers:- The death of a nonbinary teenager in Oklahoma has sparked outrage, grief, and questions among the public and the authorities. Nex Benedict, 16, died on February 8, 2024, a day after they were involved in a fight with three older girls in a school bathroom.
The incident took place at Owasso High School, where Nex was a sophomore and had faced months of bullying for their gender identity. The police are investigating the case, but no arrests have been made so far.
What happened to Nex Benedict?
According to Nex’s guardian and grandmother, Sue Benedict, who spoke to The Independent, Nex and another transgender student were attacked by three older girls in a ladies’ bathroom on February 7, 2024. Nex was knocked to the ground and hit their head on the floor, while the other student managed to escape.
Sue Benedict said that Nex had bruises and scratches on their face and head and that the school authorities did not call an ambulance for them. Instead, they suspended Nex for two weeks and called Sue Benedict to pick them up.
Sue Benedict took Nex to Bailey Medical Center in Owasso for treatment. They reported the incident to the police, who arrived at the hospital to take their statement.
Nex was discharged later that day, but their condition worsened the next day. Sue Benedict rushed them back to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The cause and manner of death are still unknown, pending an autopsy and toxicology report.
Owasso Oklahoma’s Attackers Details
| Name of the victim | Nex Benedict |
| Age of the victim | 16 |
| Gender identity of the victim | Nonbinary |
| Date of the incident | February 7, 2024 |
| Location of the incident | Owasso High School, Oklahoma |
| Number of attackers | 3 |
| Gender identity of the attackers | Cisgender girls |
| Date of the death | February 8, 2024 |
| Cause and manner of death | Unknown, pending autopsy and toxicology report |
| Status of the investigation | Ongoing, no arrests or charges yet |
| Community reaction | Outrage, grief, support, and calls for justice and change |
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According to the web search results, the Owasso Oklahoma 3 attackers have not been arrested yet. The police are still investigating the case and waiting for the autopsy and toxicology report of the victim, Nex Benedict. The authorities have not confirmed if the death is related to the fight or not, and have not revealed the names or identities of the attackers.
The case has drawn national attention and outrage, as Nex Benedict was a nonbinary teenager who faced bullying and harassment for their gender identity. The community has held a vigil and launched a petition to demand justice and change. The school district has declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation and the privacy of the students involved.
Why was Nex Benedict bullied?
Nex Benedict was a nonbinary teenager, meaning that they did not identify as either male or female. They used they/them pronouns and preferred to be called Nex, short for Dagny. They were also part of the transgender and gender nonconforming community, which includes people whose gender identity or expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Nex faced bullying and harassment from some of their peers at Owasso High School, especially after Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill in 2023 that required public school students to use bathrooms that matched the sex on their birth certificates.
The bill was one of several anti-transgender bills that were passed or proposed in Oklahoma and other states, such as banning transgender girls from playing in girls’ sports teams and restricting access to gender-affirming health care.
Nex was forced to use the bathroom that corresponded to their sex assigned at birth, which made them vulnerable to attacks and insults. Sue Benedict told The Independent that Nex had been bullied for several months, and that they had tried to change schools, but were denied by the district. She also said that Nex had attempted suicide twice before, and that they had been diagnosed with depression and anxiety.
How has the community reacted?
The death of Nex Benedict has sparked an outpouring of support, sympathy, and anger from the community, both online and offline. Many people have expressed their condolences and solidarity with Nex’s family and friends, and have called for justice and accountability. Some have also shared their own experiences of being bullied or discriminated against for their gender identity or expression.
A candlelight vigil was held on February 9, 2024, at the Owasso High School football field, where hundreds of people gathered to honor Nex’s memory and demand answers from the school and the police. Some of the attendees wore purple, Nex’s favorite color, and held signs that read “Justice for Nex” and “Trans Lives Matter”. A GoFundMe page was also set up to help Nex’s family with funeral and medical expenses, and has raised over $20,000 so far.
On social media, the hashtags #JusticeForNex and #NexBenedict have been trending, with many users sharing their grief, outrage, and calls for action. Some celebrities, such as Ellen DeGeneres, Laverne Cox, and Billy Porter, have also posted messages of support and awareness for Nex and the transgender community. A petition on Change.org has been launched to urge the Owasso Public School District to implement anti-bullying policies and LGBTQ+ education, and has garnered over 50,000 signatures.
What are the authorities doing?
The Owasso Police Department and the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office are conducting a thorough investigation into the case, and have said that they will interview school staff and students, review surveillance footage, and examine evidence from the scene. They have also said that they will consider the possibility of a hate crime, if there is evidence to support it. However, they have not made any arrests or filed any charges yet, and have not confirmed if the death is related to the fight or not.
The Owasso Public School District has declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation and the privacy of the students involved. They have only issued a brief statement on their website, saying that they are cooperating with the authorities and that they are saddened by the loss of a student. They have also said that they have counselors and support staff available for students and staff who need them.
What are the implications of this case?
The case of Nex Benedict has highlighted the issues of bullying, violence, and discrimination that many transgender and gender-nonconforming students face in schools and society. It has also raised questions about the role and responsibility of the school authorities, the police, the lawmakers, and the media in protecting and respecting the rights and dignity of these students. It has also sparked a debate about the need for more education, awareness, and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community, especially among young people.
The case of Nex Benedict has also shown the power and potential of the community to come together and demand justice and change. It has also shown the courage and resilience of Nex and other transgender and gender-nonconforming students who live their truth and express their identity, despite the challenges and risks they face. It has also shown the importance and impact of allyship and solidarity, both within and outside the LGBTQ+ community.
The case of Nex Benedict is not over yet, and there are still many unanswered questions and unresolved issues. But it is also not an isolated or unique case, and it reflects a larger and deeper problem that needs to be addressed and solved. The case of Nex Benedict is a tragedy, but it is also a call to action.
