Prosecutors revealed on Thursday that they wouldn’t pursue criminal charges in the tragic death of Nex Benedict, a nonbinary teenager from Oklahoma. Benedict passed away one day following a school altercation, suspected to be linked to bullying related to their gender identity.
The Oklahoma medical examiner determined Benedict’s death as suicide from consuming antidepressants and antihistamines, noting nonfatal injuries from the prior fight on Benedict’s nose and mouth.
The case garnered attention from LGBTQ advocates, concerned that school authorities might have overlooked instances of abuse.
The U.S. Department of Education initiated a civil rights inquiry to ascertain any potential legal violations or the school district’s failure to address harassment adequately.
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler expressed condolences, labeling Benedict’s demise a tragedy. However, he asserted that the juveniles involved in the restroom altercation didn’t engage in criminal behavior warranting prosecution.
Kunzweiler aligned with the police’s determination that the incident constituted mutual combat, lacking grounds for juvenile charges.
Benedict, who embraced they/them pronouns with some and he/him with close associates, faced persistent harassment, as attested by friends and relatives.
The Human Rights Campaign reiterated calls for a comprehensive investigation, stressing the correlation between bullying and heightened suicide rates among LGBTQ youth.
Kunzweiler disclosed that Benedict left concise notes seemingly linked to the suicide, detailing the scuffle as a brief altercation between two student groups.
The conflict ensued after Benedict poured water over two girls, with subsequent comments allegedly targeting Benedict’s laughter. The altercation lasted under a minute, according to the district attorney’s assessment, offering insufficient grounds for criminal charges.
