Re: 'DID NOT DIE AS A RESULT OF TRAUMA': OWASSO POLICE DETAIL NEX BENEDICT'S DEATH, FAMILY ISSUES NEW STATEMENT

On 09 Apr 2022, tom cotton <[email protected]> posted some
news:[email protected]: 

> Drugs. Democrats are trying to kill all Americans.  At least it wasn't
> shot. Liberals tried to lie about the cause of death of course.

Owasso Police say their investigation revealed the death of 16-year-old
Nex Benedict was not related to trauma after the physical altercation at
the school. 

In an updated statement on Wednesday police said the initial report from
the Medical Examiner indicates that Benedict did not die from injuries
sustained from the incident at Owasso High School. 

"While the investigation continues into the altercation. Preliminary
information from the medical examiner’s office is that a complete
autopsy was performed and indicated that the decedent did not die as a
result of trauma. At this time, any further comments on the cause of
death are currently pending until toxicology results and other ancillary
testing results are received. The official autopsy report will be
available at a later date" - Owasso Police The investigation is ongoing.

Below is the Full update From Owasso Police

Since February 7th, 2024, the Owasso Police Department has been actively
involved in an investigation into a physical altercation that occurred
at the Owasso High School, and Owasso Public Schools has been
cooperative throughout the investigation. The students involved in the
incident were all juveniles and juvenile files are confidential and
inaccessible to the public in most circumstances. From reports, records,
and statements of witnesses, it appears that: 

On February 7, 2024, a physical altercation occurred in a restroom at
the Owasso High School West Campus. The physical altercation was broken
up by other students who were present in the restroom and a school staff
member who was supervising outside of the restroom. All students
involved in the altercation walked under their own power to the
assistant principal’s office and nurse’s office. School administrators
began taking statements from the students present in the restroom and
began contacting parents/guardians of the students involved in the
physical altercation. Each of the students involved in the altercation
was given a health assessment by a registered nurse at the school and it
was determined that ambulance service was not required. While it was
determined that ambulance service was not required, the school nurse
recommended that Nex Benedict visit a medical facility for further
examination. On the afternoon of February 7, 2024, an Owasso School
Resource Officer was assigned to respond to Bailey Medical Center where
Nex Benedict was being examined. The School Resource Officer interviewed
Nex and their parent concerning the altercation at the Owasso High
School. The following morning, the School Resource Officer followed up
with the parent. On the afternoon of February 8, 2024, Owasso Fire
Department medics were dispatched to a medical emergency involving Nex
Benedict, who was transported to the St. Francis Pediatric Emergency
Room where they later died. While the investigation continues into the
altercation. preliminary information from the medical examiner’s office
is that a complete autopsy was performed and indicated that the decedent
did not die as a result of trauma. At this time, any further comments on
the cause of death are currently pending until toxicology results and
other ancillary testing results are received. The official autopsy
report will be available at a later date. 


The family of Nex Benedict released a statement on Wednesday saying "The
Benedicts know all too well the devastating effects of bullying and
school violence, and pray for meaningful change wherein bullying is
taken seriously." 

The entire statement released by the family attorney can be found below:

On February 7th, 2024, the Benedict Family sent their child, Nex
Benedict, to Owasso High School, trusting, like any parent or family
member should be able to, that it was a safe environment for their loved
one. Millions of parents across America make the same decision each and
every morning. While at Owasso High School, Nex was attacked and
assaulted in a bathroom by a group of other students. 

A day later, the Benedict's beautiful child lost their life.

Many of the questions posed by friends, family, media and other
concerned citizens are also top of mind for those left to honor Nex's
memory. While various investigations are still pending, the facts
currently known by the family, some of which have been released to the
public, are troubling at best. We urge those tasked with investigating
and prosecuting all potentially liable parties to do so fully, fairly
and expediently. 

Notwithstanding, the family is independently interviewing

witnesses and collecting all available evidence. The Benedict Family
calls on all school, local, state and national officials to join forces
to determine why this happened, to hold those responsible to account and
to ensure it never happens again. 

The family graciously accepts and appreciates the outpouring of support,
thoughts and prayers from across the nation for the loss of their child.
In the coming weeks and months they request that their privacy be
respected and that they be allowed to grieve and deal with their new
reality---a life without Nex. The Benedicts know all too well the
devastating effects of bullying and school violence, and pray for
meaningful change wherein bullying is taken seriously and no family has
to deal with another preventable tragedy. 

Lastly, the family asks that any threats, or acts, of violence, against
students, employees and personnel, or any other persons associated with
the Owasso Public Schools, cease immediately. 

Story Timeline:

16-year-old Nex Benedict died two weeks ago. Owasso Public Schools
confirmed there was an altercation in a high school bathroom the day
before on February 7. The school says it was broken up in less than two
minutes by other students and a staff member. 

Previous Story2/20/2024: Family Issues Statement About Owasso Student's
Identity; Cause Of Death Still To Be Determined 

They say everyone involved walked to the principal's and nurse's
offices. They say each student was given a health assessment by a school
nurse, and the school called all the parents and let them know they
could file police reports, and School Resource Officers were also
available. School leaders say they determined none of the students
needed to be taken to a hospital by ambulance. 

Benedict's parent did call the police later that day from the hospital,
wanting to make a report. Police say Benedict was released from the
hospital that day but was rushed back the next day and died. Lots of
social media reports say Benedict was murdered or killed because of the
altercation, but police confirmed on Wednesday that they did not die as
a result of trauma suffered during the incident. 

The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death, and
that could take months. 

Oklahoma's Attorney General, Gentner Drummond also released a statement
on Wednesday saying that bullying can not be tolerated in Oklahoma. 

"As a parent and grandparent, my heart breaks for the tragic death of
the Owasso student. Because investigators are still working to determine
what precipitated this tragedy and the student's cause of death, it is
too early to jump to conclusions. What is clear, however, is that our
children are precious and should not have to endure the cruelty of
others, especially when they are in school. Bullying must not be
tolerated in any form." 

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for details.

------

Previous Story 2/19/2024: Investigation Into The Death Of An Owasso High
School Student 

News On 6 has been asked why we haven't reported more on the death of an
Owasso High School student. 

We did report on the student's death when it happened and on the
student's funeral, but we have not reported rumors. We are waiting for
confirmed facts, and the autopsy results could take weeks to months, and
toxicology results could take even longer than that. 

We have new statements on Tuesday from Owasso Schools, Owasso Police,
and the student's mother. 

What has been the response to the investigation?
Owasso Schools says, "Any notion the district has ignored disciplinary
action toward those involved is simply untrue." 

The ACLU of Oklahoma also released a statement, saying the assault is an
inevitable result of the hateful rhetoric and discriminatory legislation
targeting Oklahoma trans youth. 

The statement also called for a thorough, open investigation of what it
calls "reports that the school failed to respond appropriately to the
altercation." 

However, there has been no evidence released to the public saying
Benedict was targeted for being a trans youth. 

Owasso Public Schools says it did follow protocol, and a nurse evaluated
all students involved, and it was determined no ambulances needed to be
called, but the school recommended to the parents of one student to take
their student to a medical facility for further examination. 

What has the student's family said?
There had been some confusion and questions about the student's name
since the family used the student's birth name in the obituary. 

The student's mother, Sue Benedict, released a statement on Tuesday that
says: 

We are sorry for not using their name correctly and as parents, we were
still learning the correct forms. Please do not judge us as Nex was
judged, please do not bully us for our ignorance on the subject. Nex
gave us that respect and we are sorry in our grief that we overlooked
them. I lost my child, the headstone will have correct name of their
choice. 


Owasso Public Schools says additional counselors have been available for
any student, faculty or staff member who needs help since Friday the
9th. 

Anyone in a crisis situation can call these numbers for immediate help:

Family and Children’s Services: 918-744-4800
Parkside Psychiatric Hospital and Clinic: 918-588-8888
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

https://www.newson6.com/story/65d667c15addee06680e5ba0/did-not-die-as-a-r
esult-of-trauma:-owasso-police-detail-nex-benedicts-death-family-issues-n
ew-statement