No charges will be filed in connection with a fight that occurred the day before Nex Benedict, a nonbinary high school student in Oklahoma, died by suicide, the district attorney investigating the case announced Thursday.
The fight in the high school bathroom appeared to be “an example of mutual combat,” Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler said in a statement announcing the decision not to charge anyone.
Kunzweiler also noted that Owasso police found “several short notes that appeared to be related to the suicide” written by Nex.
Kunzweiler said in the release: “Although the memo does not mention any previous fights or difficulties at school, Benedict's parents report that Benedict was bullied for various reasons while in school. '', he said, adding that was not the content of the memo. It will be released.
Nex was transgender and used he and they pronouns.
The DA's office said all of the students involved in the fight were minors, adding, “If the charges are warranted, those charges will be treated as child delinquent counts in juvenile court.”
“We do not reasonably believe that the State of Oklahoma can sustain its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt if the charges are brought,” Kunzweiler wrote.
Nex, 16, got into an altercation with another student on Feb. 7 at Owasso High School's west campus in northeast Tulsa. His mother took him to the hospital and reported the fight to police.
According to body camera footage examined by police at the hospital, Nex said three students “jumped” him by dousing him with water because they were bullying him and his friend because of their clothing.
Nex reportedly told her mother that she was being bullied at school because of her gender identity.
Police were investigating whether his death on February 8, later determined to be a suicide, was somehow related to a fight the day before.
Preliminary information from an autopsy report released Feb. 21 indicated Nex's death was not related to trauma, police said at the time. However, several days later, police announced that they had not ruled out the possibility that the fight contributed to or caused Nex's death.
The coroner's report said the likely cause of death was “combined toxicity” from two drugs. Both items were legally available at Nex's home, the district attorney's office said.
The coroner's report also noted that Nex had visible “superficial damage” consistent with the previous day's game, according to a statement from prosecutors. However, neither injury was determined to have caused Nex's death.
Kunzweiler said his office reviewed law enforcement reports on two incidents related to Nex's case: the fight and the police visit to the hospital.
Kunzweiler said the fight occurred in a bathroom at Owasso High School and involved two groups of students who did not know each other until they met while on suspension.
Kunzweiler said that in the days leading up to the fight, both groups were “acting against each other,” but that no students reported the behavior to school administrators or teachers.
In a statement last week, the family called on schools, administrators and lawmakers to come together and push for reforms to end bullying.
Nex's family said, “Reforms that create a school environment built on respect, inclusivity, and grace, and aimed at eradicating bullying and hate, are the type of change that everyone involved should be able to drive together.” Stated.
In a statement, Kunzweiler called Nex's death by suicide a “tragedy.”
“The reasons why people commit suicide do not provide answers for those left behind,” Kunzweiler said in a statement Thursday. “Suicide is a tragedy, and too often our country is not allocated enough resources to combat this growing crisis.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or chat with us on Live Chat. 988lifeline.org.You can also visit SpeakerOfSuicide.com/Resources for additional support.
If you are an LGBTQ youth in crisis, feeling suicidal, or need a safe, non-judgmental place to talk, call TrevorLifeline today. 1-866-488-7386 or rainbow youth project 1-317-643-4888.
