Nex Benedict, the 16-year-old Oklahoma student who died one day after a
fight in a high school bathroom, died by suicide, the state's medical
examiner said on Wednesday.

The summary report said that Benedict, who identified as nonbinary and
used they/them pronouns, died due to the combined toxicity of two
different medications.

"From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso Police observed many
indications that this death was the result of suicide," the Owasso Police
Department said in a statement after the report was published. "However,
investigators did not wish to confirm that information without the final
results being presented by the Oklahoma Medical Examiners Office."

The day before they died, Benedict was involved in a fight in the girl's
bathroom at Owasso High School. A school nurse sent Benedict to the
hospital, where they told police officers that three girls were harassing
them. Benedict responded by throwing water at the girls, which prompted
the fight.

"Okay. So, so they just up and decided to just start messing with you?"
one of the officers is heard asking Benedict in the video.

"Yeah, because of the way that we dress," Benedict said.

Benedict's mother called emergency responders to their home the day after
the fight, saying Benedict's breathing was shallow, their eyes were
rolling back and their hands were curled, according to audio released by
Owasso police.

A preliminary autopsy report said Benedict did not die of injuries from
the fight.

Benedict's death prompted rallies and vigils in U.S. cities from New York
to Los Angeles, with organizers calling their death a reminder of the
dangers and persecution the LGBTQ+ community continues to face.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nex-benedict-oklahoma-nonbinary-teen-died-by-
suicide-medical-examiner-rules/