Thousands raised for non-binary teenager beaten to death at school

More than $25,000 has been raised after a 16-year-old non-binary student named Nex Benedict, was brutally beaten by their classmates on February 7th, 2024. They died of their injuries the next day.

The attack took place in the bathroom of Owasso High School in Oklahoma. For unknown reasons the school did not call an ambulance for Benedict, nor were the police informed of the attack until the teenager was admitted into the hospital.

The death is largely being blamed on rising state and nationwide anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. Oklahoma's top education official, Ryan Walters, has pushed anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric during his tenure. He also recently hired far-right activist Chaya Raichick - also known as Libs of TikTok online - for a state school book-banning committee.

Speaking to KRJH, a mother of Benedict's friend said: "I know at one point, one of the girls was pretty much repeatedly beating [Benedict’s] head across the floor.”

A teacher eventually walked into the bathroom to stop the beating, the friend added, but no ambulance was called.

“She couldn’t walk to the nurses’ station on her own, and staff didn’t call the ambulance, which amazes me," the friend added.

Benedict was realised from hospital on the same day of the attack, but returned the following day where they died whilst hospitalised. The friend said the death was caused by "complications from brain trauma".

In a letter to parents, Owasso Public Schools said it was increasing security personnel, updating safety drills and its rules on disciplinary violations and hall supervision, and providing on-campus counsellors to speak with students distressed over the murder.

A now closed GoFundMe campaign raised a total of $27,836 for costs associated with Benedict's death. A memorial service was held on February 15.

A memorial post on LGBTQ+ Organisation's Freedom Oklahoma website reads: "The growing anti-2SLGBTQ+ sentiments our youngest community members are facing more often, fueled by state law and the rhetoric around it, words and actions of our state elected officials, and the growing platforms those in power are giving to people like Chaya Raichik who continues to use her platform in a way that leads others to threaten real harm at Oklahoma kids.

"Nex should still be alive. Nex deserved not only a safe and nurturing environment to learn, but an environment that actively disrupted anti-2STGNC+ rhetoric and worked to ensure that vulnerable students were safe. Owasso schools failed to create that environment for Nex."

Owasso High School said in a lengthy statement given to indy100:

Owasso Public Schools has cooperated fully with the investigation by the Owasso Police Department surrounding the death of a high school student on February 8, 2024. The district has limited its statements on the matter to this point due to the ongoing investigation in an effort to not disrupt police, and out of respect and for the confidentiality for all involved.

However, the speculation and misinformation surrounding the case has intensified in recent days. While there will still be pieces of information that the district will never be able to share due to federal privacy laws, we are reaching out to you today to address some of that misinformation, particularly statements that call into question the district’s commitment to student safety & security. We understand the importance of ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students and know that the information below doesn’t change the fact that a fight occurred on school grounds and a student passed away the next day.

We have worked with police to ensure that the information provided below will not disrupt their investigation.

• On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 7, 2024, a physical altercation occurred in a restroom at the Owasso High School West Campus.
• Students were in the restroom for less than two (2) minutes and the physical altercation was broken up by other students who were present in the restroom at the time, along with a staff member who was supervising outside of the restroom.
• Once the altercation was broken up, all students involved in the altercation walked under their own power to the assistant principal’s office and nurse’s office.
• District administrators began taking statements from the students present in the restroom and began contacting parents/guardians of the students involved in the physical altercation.
• Following district protocols, each of the students involved in the altercation was given a health assessment by a district registered nurse. Per district protocols, students needing further support are transported to a medical facility either by ambulance or by a parent/guardian, depending on the severity of the injuries and preference of the parent/guardian.
• While it was determined that ambulance service was not required, out of an abundance of caution, it was recommended to one parent that their student visit a medical facility for further examination.
• Per district protocols, the parents/guardians of students involved in a physical altercation are notified and informed of the option to file a police report should they choose. Should they choose to file a police report, school resource officers are made available to the parents/guardians either at that time or they can schedule an appointment, if they choose, at a later date. These practices were followed during this incident.
• Physical altercations between students are unacceptable. Any student/s engaging in such action, jeopardizing the safety of others, will receive disciplinary consequences. These consequences can include out of school suspension for first offense. Due to federal privacy laws, we are unable to disclose the exact nature of disciplinary action taken against any student. That information can only be given to the parents/guardians of the student being disciplined. Any notion that the district has ignored disciplinary action toward those involved is simply untrue.
• Additional counseling services were provided to students at the high school on Friday, February 9, and continue to be available for all students & staff.

We understand that for many, additional questions remain, however, these are the facts that we are able to communicate at this juncture. We will continue to cooperate fully with the Owasso Police Department’s investigation.

The loss of a student, a member of the Ram Family and the Owasso community is devastating. We recognize the impact that this event has had on the entire school community and it is our priority to foster an environment where everyone feels heard, supported, and safe. If there is ever a concern about student safety or well-being, please reach out to a teacher, counselor or principal at your child’s school. As we continue to mourn the loss of this student, our hearts go out to their family and they will continue to be in our prayers. We are here to support them and everyone who has been affected by this situation.

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