OK - Nex Benedict, 16 year old student died after being beaten in school restroom, Owasso, Feb 8 2024

[BeginnerSleuther]

I’m sure the fight led to many bad things for Nex including suspension. But on the body cam, Nex admits they didn’t know the girls and started the physical part of the confrontation by throwing water. No, I do not believe that kids in high school should retaliate or solve their differences by fighting, but they are immature and fights happen regularly in high school.

I do not believe the fighting girls deserve any blame for what later happened unless the family, school or police can show a pattern of bullying behavior from those specific girls.

It is tragic that Nex did not feel they had enough reasons to continue living, due to inadequate mental health support or a lack of safe school environment. But the girls who fought Nex cannot be held responsible for this death. There is not always someone we can blame for tragedy.

IMO, I have watched the body cam, but my opinions are based on memory when I first saw it a week ago

They can and should be criminally charged for the violence. MOO

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

How would they be prescribed? In weekly or monthly prescription? For a child of her age?

Yes. It's very common.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Most medications can do that, even when not used in combination. this death has been treated by those in charge very disrespectfully from the start. If I were Nex's family, I'd want my own autopsy. MOO

Yes, definitely.

Your input on this would be greatly appreciated here.

"The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office said the full autopsy report will be released in 10 business days and will be sent on March 27."

Oklahoma Medical Examiner rules Nex Benedict's manner of death a suicide

The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office has ruled the manner of death of 16-year-old nonbinary Owasso High School student Nex Benedict a suicide.

www.koco.com

 

[Soulmagent]

They can and should be criminally charged for the violence. MOO

Aggravating factors and all . I feel for the last 20 years we kinda forgot about that aspect of law. IMO. Dont hang me, I live in a commonwealth.

 

[Izzylizzy]

wrong thread.

 

[LouTennant]

They can and should be criminally charged for the violence. MOO

Just thinking about the violence part of the attack I would assume that LE would press for some charges, as 3 girls beating Nex around the head does seem excessive no matter who started it.

I don't believe LE have stated that the attackers are not being charged so maybe that's still to come? Maybe they were just waiting for the autopsy and we hear something soon.

JMO

 

[IDK]

It will be interesting to hear what the “many indications of suicide” were, when more information is released.

“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 department said in a statement.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/03/13/nex-benedict-oklahoma-death-autopsy/I’m

 

[Soulmagent]

Without a single doubt. Other things may have been going on too, but the timing suggests primary contribution from the fight. Public humiliation is a significant driving factor for suicide.

I wont be able to decide until I have a read over the autopsy . I know of a few cases where certain information makes a matter. Really trying to reel myself back , As a sleuth, I want information of bruises behind the ears ,eye injuries, contusions,etc, it really only take 30 seconds to beat the life out of a person. I almost had it happen .
i

 

[LouTennant]

It will be interesting to hear what the “many indications of suicide” were, when more information is released.

“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 department said in a statement.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/03/13/nex-benedict-oklahoma-death-autopsy/I’m

I wonder if Nex left a note that was eventually found or something else they left on their phone/computer.

Also it could have been noticed that there was empty prescription drugs boxes discarded when they should have been full.

JMO

 

[duckduck]

I certainly don't want to take away from the tragedy of a young life lost, but I do want to bring up that there are probably a half dozen sides to this story and the possibility is very real that Nex's suicide may not stem from the incident in the bathroom. I think there will be a lot more information to come out based on the following I noticed from watching the bodycam footage and listening to the 911 call.
-Nex appears to be well known to the responding officer and speaks of prior "incidents" with him. The way he asked what had happened today and the way mom tried to talk about her and Nex having some good talks and making good progress makes me think that she knew it might be an uphill battle to press charges. I am by no means victim blaming, but even Nex's friends described them as a fighter.
-During the bodycam footage, mom does most of the talking. Mom is the one who mentions multiple times that Nex never laid hands on the other girls other than throwing some water at them, but in Nex's version, they admit to throwing one of the girls into a paper towel dispenser. At one point, the officer even has to tell mom to let Nex tell their side.
-Nex describes the water as being in a plastic water bottle and that she "threw" it at one of the girls who were bullying them. It isn't clear if she threw just the water or the water bottle. At another point she says she "poured" water on the girl. Regardless, it doesn't appear to be a 'sprinkling".
-Nex also claims the following sequence of events: 1.) the girls in the bathroom were making fun of the way Nex and their friends were laughing 2.) Nex poured water on them 3.) The girls came at Nex and tried to pull their hair 4.) Nex threw one of them into the paper towel dispenser (confirming that Nex did put hands on one girl and continued to escalate the fight) 5.) the girls got Nex's legs out from under them and started beating them. 6.) Nex then blacks out and can't recall anything after and relies on what their friends tell them. I don't envy the officials who are going to have to unravel everyone's version of this story.
-On the 911 call, Nex's mom states that Nex takes Fluoxetine (one of the drugs Nex overdosed on) and Quetiapine (not mentioned in COD). What's interesting is that mom tells the dispatcher that she is certain that Nex couldn't have taken them because Nex takes them "around 8pm" and then she (mom) "puts them up" every night. Definitely speculation, but I thought the wording was interesting. Why would someone have to "put up" prescription drugs every night to keep them away from a 16 year old? A three year old, maybe, but I thought that was an odd statement.

Anyway, I do believe it was suicide. Was it tied to the fight the day before? I think there is way too much to unravel and most likely many pieces we do not know. MOO.

 

[MyBelle]

I certainly don't want to take away from the tragedy of a young life lost, but I do want to bring up that there are probably a half dozen sides to this story and the possibility is very real that Nex's suicide may not stem from the incident in the bathroom. I think there will be a lot more information to come out based on the following I noticed from watching the bodycam footage and listening to the 911 call.
-Nex appears to be well known to the responding officer and speaks of prior "incidents" with him. The way he asked what had happened today and the way mom tried to talk about her and Nex having some good talks and making good progress makes me think that she knew it might be an uphill battle to press charges. I am by no means victim blaming, but even Nex's friends described them as a fighter.
-During the bodycam footage, mom does most of the talking. Mom is the one who mentions multiple times that Nex never laid hands on the other girls other than throwing some water at them, but in Nex's version, they admit to throwing one of the girls into a paper towel dispenser. At one point, the officer even has to tell mom to let Nex tell their side.
-Nex describes the water as being in a plastic water bottle and that she "threw" it at one of the girls who were bullying them. It isn't clear if she threw just the water or the water bottle. At another point she says she "poured" water on the girl. Regardless, it doesn't appear to be a 'sprinkling".
-Nex also claims the following sequence of events: 1.) the girls in the bathroom were making fun of the way Nex and their friends were laughing 2.) Nex poured water on them 3.) The girls came at Nex and tried to pull their hair 4.) Nex threw one of them into the paper towel dispenser (confirming that Nex did put hands on one girl and continued to escalate the fight) 5.) the girls got Nex's legs out from under them and started beating them. 6.) Nex then blacks out and can't recall anything after and relies on what their friends tell them. I don't envy the officials who are going to have to unravel everyone's version of this story.
-On the 911 call, Nex's mom states that Nex takes Fluoxetine (one of the drugs Nex overdosed on) and Quetiapine (not mentioned in COD). What's interesting is that mom tells the dispatcher that she is certain that Nex couldn't have taken them because Nex takes them "around 8pm" and then she (mom) "puts them up" every night. Definitely speculation, but I thought the wording was interesting. Why would someone have to "put up" prescription drugs every night to keep them away from a 16 year old? A three year old, maybe, but I thought that was an odd statement.

Anyway, I do believe it was suicide. Was it tied to the fight the day before? I think there is way too much to unravel and most likely many pieces we do not know. MOO.

I'm not sure Nex physically picked up a girl and "threw" her into a paper towel dispenser. I think it more probable the girl was taunting in Nex's "space," and was shoved out of their "space."

I'm confident that Nex' shoving a girl, spraying water on a girl does not give the gang of bullies the legal right to physically attack and repeatedly bash any victim's head onto the floor.

JMO

 

[duckduck]

I'm not sure Nex physically picked up a girl and "threw" her into a paper towel dispenser. I think it more probable the girl was taunting in Nex's "space," and was shoved out of their "space."

I'm confident that Nex' shoving a girl, spraying water on a girl does not give the gang of bullies the legal right to physically attack and repeatedly bash any victim's head onto the floor.

JMO

I didn't say it gave a "gang of bullies the legal right to physically attack and repeatedly bash any victim's head onto the floor", BUT we don't know for sure that any of that happened either. Nex certainly never said they had their head repeatedly bashed onto the floor. All they said was "they started beating the out of me", but they "weren't sure because I blacked out". You could infer that Nex blacked out because of a head injury, but we just don't know. I'm not saying any of this is ok, but trying to point out that we haven't heard the other sides to this and I think there is going to be a lot more to unravel.

 

[MyBelle]

I didn't say it gave a "gang of bullies the legal right to physically attack and repeatedly bash any victim's head onto the floor", BUT we don't know for sure that any of that happened either. Nex certainly never said they had their head repeatedly bashed onto the floor. All they said was "they started beating the out of me", but they "weren't sure because I blacked out". You could infer that Nex blacked out because of a head injury, but we just don't know. I'm not saying any of this is ok, but trying to point out that we haven't heard the other sides to this and I think there is going to be a lot more to unravel.

I think multiple bashes of the head on a hard surface will result in traumatic head injury.

JMO

 

[duckduck]

I think multiple bashes of the head on a hard surface will result in traumatic head injury.

JMO

I would think so, too, but can you point me to the reference that positively says that Nex received multiple bashes of the head? All due respect afforded. I feel like this case has gotten so emotional because of the hot button issues of bullying (by no means ok), especially given Nex's gender identity (again I am sympathetic there), that there has been a whole narrative that has blown up before we know all the facts. Just trying to be objective.

 

[housewife]

I didn't say it gave a "gang of bullies the legal right to physically attack and repeatedly bash any victim's head onto the floor", BUT we don't know for sure that any of that happened either. Nex certainly never said they had their head repeatedly bashed onto the floor. All they said was "they started beating the out of me", but they "weren't sure because I blacked out". You could infer that Nex blacked out because of a head injury, but we just don't know. I'm not saying any of this is ok, but trying to point out that we haven't heard the other sides to this and I think there is going to be a lot more to unravel.

What exactly would justify a kid being beaten up by three other kids in a school? Nothing.

I haven't heard of any injuries the attackers suffered. Did any of them have to go to the emergency room because they got... wet?

Why do you think Nex lost consciousness during the attack?

Edit: I don't mean to be snarky, but asking about "both sides" contributes to victim blaming. No one deserves to get jumped at school.

 

[LouTennant]

What exactly would justify a kid being beaten up by three other kids in a school? Nothing.

I haven't heard of any injuries the attackers suffered. Did any of them have to go to the emergency room because they got... wet?

Why do you think Nex lost consciousness during the attack?

Edit: I don't mean to be snarky, but asking about "both sides" contributes to victim blaming. No one deserves to get jumped at school.

I know the issues around trans people can be emotive but we really need to hear all the facts before we rush to judgement.

I'm in the camp who believe charges could be bought for the physical beating of Nex.

Wanting to hear both sides of the situation is in no way victim blaming. Ultimately we are all here on a fact finding mission to get to the bottom of what happened. To make informed judgements we need to hear all sides.

JMO

 

[seasideForest]

Legally in my state it is physical assault to toss water on a person as has been described in this case.

RSBM for focus.

Had Nex lived, maybe they all would have been charged/could have been charged with physical assault, Nex to a lesser degree perhaps. But that's moot now.
IMO

The other three could still be charged though. If that doesn't happen, I really hope somebody has a good 'talk' with them and teaches them better interaction with others.
MOO

 

[MyBelle]

RSBM for focus.

Had Nex lived, maybe they all would have been charged/could have been charged with physical assault, Nex to a lesser degree perhaps. But that's moot now.
IMO

The other three could still be charged though. If that doesn't happen, I really hope somebody has a good 'talk' with them and teaches them better interaction with others.
MOO

It is highly probable that the girls were suspended from school or kicked out. If Nex had lived, he also would have been suspended. I'm not aware of any public school that allows fighting anywhere on campus.

I think this case is receiving so much attention because of the cavalier attitude of the LE resource officer, OK public school officials as well as the violence inflicted on Dex in a school restroom.

JMO

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating Nex Benedict’s Oklahoma school district: What happens next? | Brookings

Rachel M. Perera outlines what happens when the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opens an investigation

www.brookings.edu

On March 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it was launching an investigation into Owasso Public Schools over concerns that the district failed to adequately respond to allegations of sex-based harassment (under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex). The investigation was opened in response to a civil rights complaint filed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)—an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I'm not sure Nex physically picked up a girl and "threw" her into a paper towel dispenser. I think it more probable the girl was taunting in Nex's "space," and was shoved out of their "space."

I'm confident that Nex' shoving a girl, spraying water on a girl does not give the gang of bullies the legal right to physically attack and repeatedly bash any victim's head onto the floor.

JMO

And I would add that I really haven't seen this type of interpretation with any other victim on WS. Pages and pages of victims, but we never wonder what their role was when they were the victim of a 3-1 physical assault. I could see the questions if it was 1-1, but 3-1 and the (IMO) prejudicial statements from law enforcement make me question what is going on in the world that we can't all agree on fundamental rules of human engagement.

MOO

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I know the issues around trans people can be emotive but we really need to hear all the facts before we rush to judgement.

I'm in the camp who believe charges could be bought for the physical beating of Nex.

Wanting to hear both sides of the situation is in no way victim blaming. Ultimately we are all here on a fact finding mission to get to the bottom of what happened. To make informed judgements we need to hear all sides.

JMO

I just don't understand the inconsistency in the 2-side argument. Is there another crime on WS in which we need to hear the side of the perps in the altercation before saying they should be criminally charged for breaking the law, be it mugging, beating, rape or anything else short of murder?

MOO