May 9, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Non-Binary Student Dies After Allegedly Violent Bathroom Fight at Owasso High School in Oklahoma

High School Faces Questions After They Fail to Call First Responders or Report to Police

Nex Benedict, a non-binary 16-year-old student at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma, has died after a fight in the school’s bathroom. Local news coverage of the death refers only to the student’s “unexpected death,” yet the article reports testimony from a friend’s parent that details an allegedly savage beating by multiple students. The case was brought to light by Alejandra Caraballo or Esqueer on Twitter.

The article from KJRH.com quotes the mother of the victim’s friend, who states, “I think complications from brain trauma, head trauma, is what caused it.” The mother, who declined to be named for the article, added that three older girls were beating the victim and her daughter in the girl’s bathroom, and eventually, a teacher entered the bathroom and broke the fight up. 

The woman added, as quoted by KJRH, “I know at one point, one of the girls was pretty much repeatedly beating her head across the floor…She couldn’t walk to the nurses’ station on her own, and the staff didn’t call the ambulance, which amazes me.” 

Not only did the staff at Owasso High fail to call an ambulance, but they also did not report the violence to the local police. It was only after the child was taken to the hospital that the police were informed about the beating. Nex Benedict was taken to the hospital on the day of the fight, February 7, by a grandparent, who was the child’s primary guardian. Released from the hospital that night, Benedict was taken back to the hospital the next day and died on February 8. 

No mention of an ongoing investigation is stated on the local police department’s website or social media, and the Owasso High School website and social media are silent on the subject as well. The only tangentially connected communication from the Owasso Public Schools was a letter sent to parents eight days later that “addresses school safety measures.” that have “been on the minds of many parents and students lately.” as reported by Fox News 23

The news report says that Tiffani Cooper, principal of Owasso High School, says, “The safety of students and staff is, and always will be, our top priority.” However, no mention of the death of a student was mentioned in the news report about the letter. Attempts by local news outlets to get comment were turned away by the school, which said there was an active police investigation, and the police, who said that they were “consumed with the investigation.” 

Nex Benedict was laid to rest on February 15, and the teenager’s deadname is used in local news reports and in the GoFundMe set up to pay burial costs.

in NEWS
Related Posts

Shore Hotel: Your Destination for Local Events, Celebrations

May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025

Cinco de Mayo, Pride Month and More Parties This Summer Shore Hotel, a luxury hotel nestled in the heart of...

(Video) Petitgrain Boulangerie’s Party For Its One Year Anniversary

May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025

We got the gifts with a DJ, free cookies, croissants and affogatos. Congratulations to the co-owners Clémence de Lutz and...

(Video) Socalo’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration

May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025

Co-Owner Susan Feniger Offers Diners Chapulines While Co-Owner Mary Sue Milliken works behind the scenes. Chef Makes Tlayudas on the...

“Forte dei Marmi Fridays” Brings Italian Elegance and Fresh Seafood to Brentwood

May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025

New Lunch and Dinner Series Features Traditional Italian Dishes from Tuscany There is a new weekly dining experience bringing the...

Meet the Man Behind the Burritos: Severiano Gonzalez Marks Four Decades at Tito’s Tacos

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

One Man’s Dedication, Four Decades of Flavor: Tito’s Senior Cook Speaks By Dolores Quintana Severiano Gonzalez is the senior cook...

Tyla Teams Up with Erewhon for Limited-Edition “Bliss” Smoothie Benefiting Girls’ Education

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

Tyla’s Smoothie Is Here. Blissfully Bright, Nutrient-Packed, and for a Good Cause Erewhon has teamed up with Grammy-winning musician Tyla...

Here’s Looking At You to Close Permanently on June 13 After Nearly 10 Years of Culinary Impact in L.A.

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

Beloved restaurant bids farewell with heartfelt message from co-founder Lien Ta After nearly ten years of culinary creativity and community,...

Former Security Guard Charged With Murder in Deadly Spartan College Shooting

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

Inglewood College Tragedy: Gun Violence Leaves One Dead, One Critically Injured Jesse Figueroa, a former security guard, faces multiple felony...

Supreme Court Decision Greenlights Trump-Era Ban on Transgender Military Service

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

Ruling Lifts Nationwide Injunction, Allowing Pentagon to Discharge Trans Troops The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for...

Whistleblower Claims Accuse LAHSA Chief of Misconduct, Data Suppression

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

Inside Safe Data Allegedly Withheld to Protect Mayor’s Image  Los Angeles’ top homeless services official is facing serious allegations of...

Assembly Honors Beverly Hills Councilmember for Holocaust Remembrance and Public Service

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

Beverly Hills Leader Honored for Holocaust Remembrance and Civic Impact Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) has named Beverly Hills Councilmember...

Pedestrian Critically Injured in West Hollywood Hit-and-Run

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

WeHo Sheriffs Investigate Collision with Pedestrian Traffic investigators with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station are searching for the driver involved...

Search Underway for Missing Man Last Seen in West Hollywood

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

Sheriff’s Department Investigating Disappearance of Local Man The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) is asking for the public’s assistance...

New Lawsuit Alleges Excessive Force by CHP, LAPD at UCLA Pro-Palestine Protest in 2024

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

Civil Rights Groups Say Law Enforcement Violated Students’ Rights Civil rights attorneys representing demonstrators at UCLA have filed a federal...

Caltrans Gives an Update on Sepulveda Pass 405 Project

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

Freeway Rehab Project Through the Sepulveda Pass Start Date is TBA Update: Caltrans has not delayed the I-405 project, and...