GLAAD ELEVATES STATEMENT FROM FAMILY OF 16-YEAR-OLD NEX BENEDICT ABOUT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S INCOMPLETE REPORT AND NEW INFORMATION FROM REPORT RELEASED TO THE BENEDICT FAMILY

GLAAD RELEASES KEY QUESTIONS MEDIA MUST ASK ABOUT THE INCOMPLETE REPORT AND ABOUT THE COMPETENCE, CREDIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS

BENEDICT FAMILY: “… the Benedicts want to ensure that other pertinent portions of the report are not overshadowed by the “classification” of Nex’s death. Rather than allow incomplete accounts to take hold and spread any further, the Benedicts feel compelled to provide a summary of those findings which have not yet been released by the Medical Examiner’s office, particularly those that contradict allegations of the assault on Nex being insignificant… [including] numerous areas of physical trauma over Nex’s body that evidence the severity of the assault.”

GLAAD: “Nex’s family accurately notes how the report released this week does not reflect the full picture of what happened to Nex, and continues to urge accountability of those who failed to keep Nex and all students in Oklahoma safe from bullying, harassment, assault, and most brutally, death. Media must continue to question those who release information prematurely and incompletely in this investigation, and demand answers about the abysmal response to a horrific assault in a public school bathroom and the state-sponsored bullying that led up to it. Our hearts remain with Nex’s family as they endure their unbearable loss. All families deserve to know their children’s safety will always come first in their schools and communities.”

(New York, NY, March 15, 2024) – GLAAD, the world’s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is elevating the statement from the family of Nex Benedict about the incomplete and premature medical examiner report on Nex’s cause of death, and urges media to continue asking questions about the cause of death and to hold state and school officials accountable for all student safety (see 16 starter questions below).

Nex, a 16-year-old 2STGNC+ (Two Spirit, transgender, gender nonconforming+) student of Choctaw descent, died the day after a three-on-one fight in a restroom at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma last month. Nex had reported to police in the hospital following the attack that they had endured a year of bullying in the school, and that they did not believe the school would do anything to address the bullying. The officer discouraged Nex and their family from reporting the incident.

The medical examiner and Owasso police released a one-page document on Wednesday with a box checked for cause of death, revealing no details about how the medical examiner arrived at the decision to check the box, or about other determinative factors about Nex’s last hours and the common medications found in Nex’s system. A full report is due on March 27th.

The Benedict family responded to the incomplete report in a statement from their attorney last night:
“With each passing day, the numerous ongoing investigations surrounding Nex’s untimely passing yield additional information. Yesterday, a summary report from the Medical Examiner was released, simply stating that Nex’s death was caused by suicide. As the media and the public await the release of the full report, the Benedicts want to ensure that other pertinent portions of the report are not overshadowed by the ‘classification’ of Nex’s death. Rather than allow incomplete accounts to take hold and spread any further, the Benedicts feel compelled to provide a summary of those findings which have not yet been released by the Medical Examiner’s office, particularly those that contradict allegations of the assault on Nex being insignificant. As outlined in the full report, the Medical Examiner found numerous areas of physical trauma over Nex’s body that evidence the severity of the assault.”

The Benedict family statement includes direct quotes from the full report noting trauma to Nex’s head and neck, hemorrhages, scalp lacerations, as well as lacerations and bruising on the torso and extremities. The Benedict family statement further continues to call on schools, administrators, lawmakers, and communities to come together to prevent any other family from suffering a similar tragedy, including reforms in schools to prioritize “pillars of respect, inclusion and grace, and aim to eliminate bullying and hate.”

GLAAD’s CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis (she/her) issued the following statement:
“Nex’s family accurately notes how the report released this week does not reflect the full picture of what happened to Nex, and continues to urge accountability of those who failed to keep Nex and all students in Oklahoma safe from bullying, harassment, assault, and most brutally, death. Media must continue to question those who release information prematurely and incompletely in this investigation, and demand answers about the abysmal response to a horrific assault in a public school bathroom and the state-sponsored bullying that led up to it. Our hearts remain with Nex’s family as they endure their unbearable loss. All families deserve to know their children’s safety will always come first in their schools and communities.”

State and local equality groups in Oklahoma have also released their responses to the incomplete report and demands for full accountability for Nex’s death and the safety of all Oklahomans. See their statements released to state press this morning, here.

At the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles last night, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis noted the epidemic of state-sponsored bullying via legislation targeting LGBTQ youth, including in Oklahoma:

“Over 500 anti-trans bills have been proposed nationwide this year. And it’s only March. It’s time to get the bullies out,” Ellis said.

Full remarks HERE, also available for download HERE.

In addition, GLAAD is releasing 16 Key Questions reporters covering Nex Benedict’s death must ask of state, local and school officials:

1. Why is the police department rushing to release premature and incomplete information? As reported before, Owasso police have already rushed to release incomplete information about Nex’s death amid an ongoing investigation, admitting that doing so was not normal practice, and that it was to “head off” national scrutiny.
2. Why did the police not wait to release any information until the full investigation was completed and the full report is out, as already announced, on March 27th?
3. Why has the state medical examiner’s office been operating without accreditation for at least fourteen years?
4. As recently as nine months ago, the Tulsa office reported being significantly behind in cases and understaffed. How are these shortcomings impacting the investigation and rushed premature reports about Nex’s death?
5. What other scandals has the medical examiner’s office been implicated in?
6. When has Benadryl and Prozac ever been listed as a lethal combination?
7. How did the medical examiner conclude that these two common medications millions of Americans take were not ingested accidentally or via medical malpractice?
8. Has the medical examiner or police department reviewed the records and interviewed providers from Nex’s visit to the medical center the night before they died to determine what medications, dosages or other treatments and guidance were prescribed or given and when?
9. Why did the school not call police immediately after the assault in the school bathroom?
10. Where are the formal written protocols and policies that guided this non-response to an assault that led to a student being beaten and knocked unconscious in a school bathroom?
11. What programs exist to prevent, report and address bullying in Owasso schools? Can you show us the documentation and materials used to inform students and educators about bullying? If such a program exists, when was it created and initiated and by whom; and when was the last time staff or students were briefed about bullying, including ways to prevent it, familiarize students and teachers with differences that are commonly targeted by bullies, and stop bullying from happening again?
12. Have there been other attacks in schools on Indigenous or LGBTQ students? Where do these reports and documentation exist?
13. What correspondence has Owasso public schools had with Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, about Nex’s death and next steps to prevent any more bullying or deaths of Owasso students?
14. When will Owasso and all public schools in Oklahoma update its bathroom policies and protocols to ensure all students, including Two Spirit, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming (2STGNC+) can simply use the bathroom they feel safest in?
15. Why does Superintendent Walters continue to deny the existence of transgender and gender nonconforming people, in a state whose Indigenous history and culture has long respected and honored Two Spirit people and expanded definitions of gender and gender expression? How does Superintendent Walters think his inaccurate statements and beliefs such as “there are only two genders” impact people of other faiths and Indigenous backgrounds who know and respect that transgender people and youth exist, attend Oklahoma public schools, and as taxpayers, pay Walters’ salary to represent and protect their families and children?
16. Have there been other cases of the deaths of Indigenous and 2STGNC+ people that the medical examiner and police department have handled, and how do their families feel about state officials and department credibility and competency?

GLAAD is documenting Superintendent Walters’ record here, which includes:

• Falsely and harmfully denying the existence and long history of Two Spirit and gender expansive people including among Indigenous cultures in his own state
• Pushing book bans, harassing educators who support the freedom to read, and appearing with extremist national book banning group Moms for Liberty, an appearance for which Walters billed Oklahoma taxpayers
• Producing and promoting videos that wrongfully and dangerously accuse transgender youth of being a threat in schools
• Spreading disinformation about accurate inclusive history in his state, including denying that the Tulsa Massacre was a racist attack

Walters is also featured in a new report citing state records that shows efforts to elevate Walters’ profile in the aftermath of Nex Benedict’s death, again using Oklahoma taxpayer dollars.

Walters’ record has been chronicled in news reports that detail his anti-LGBTQ record and other leadership failures, featured in an ad campaign currently airing in Oklahoma. View/embed ad here.

350+ groups signed an open letter urging full investigations of the bullying and death of Nex Benedict and accountability for Ryan Walters. Signatories include faith organizations, health care advocates, one of the world’s largest service unions, educational leaders, as well as LGBTQ, civil and human rights groups.

###

About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with @GLAAD on social media. To learn more about taking action for LGBTQ people and issues, go to www.glaad.org/ACTNOW