Nex Benedict Died After Being Beaten in a High School Bathroom

On February 7, 2024, in Owassa, Oklahoma, a non-binary (they/them) 16 year old named Nex Benedict was attacked in a bathroom at Owassa High School. They were allegedly assaulted by several older students.

Nex died the next day. 

Since their death, Owasso Police have stated that Nex's death was not due to any "trauma" suffered in the attack.

The school Nex attended has made few public statements, and none accepting any accountability for failing to prevent the attack, for failing to support Nex prior to the attack, or for failing to summon medical services after the attack.

We believe:

• That Nex was attacked for being non-binary.
• That Nex had suffered from bullying and threats for a significant amount of time.
• That Oklahoma has enacted policies extremely hostile to LGBTQ+ persons.
• That Nex's death was the direct result of the attack, and that it was both  murder and a hate crime.
• That we do not trust the authorities currently investigating Nex's death, nor do we trust the staff in the school and the Oklahoma school system to investigate their death in good faith.

Based on the above, we demand that an independent investigation be started immediately. This investigation must be impartial, unbiased and most importantly, manged by law enforcement with no connection to or interest in the outcome of the investigation.

Justice demands that we uncover the truth behind this heinous attack and hold everyone responsible for it, including those who failed in their duty of care to Nex, accountable. 

Nex did not deserve to be attacked or to be murdered for being non-binary. Their death is a indictment of the current wave of reprehensible anti-LGBTQ+ laws and social media disinformation that drives these kinds of hate crimes.