Police release preliminary autopsy information on death of 16-year-old Owasso High School student
the Owasso Police Department released an update on the investigation into Nex Benedict's death on Wednesday
the Owasso Police Department released an update on the investigation into Nex Benedict's death on Wednesday
the Owasso Police Department released an update on the investigation into Nex Benedict's death on Wednesday
Police say an initial autopsy report indicated that a nonbinary 16-year-old Owasso High School student who died earlier this month did not die as a result of trauma.
On Wednesday, the Owasso Police Department released an update on the investigation into Nex Benedict's death. While the investigation continues, police said "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."
The official autopsy report will be released at a later date. Police added that other comments on the cause of death are pending until toxicology results and other ancillary testing results come back.
According to police and Owasso Public Schools, students got into a fight on Feb. 7 in a bathroom at the school's west campus. Other students in the bathroom as well as a teacher supervising outside the restroom broke up the fight.
Both police and the district say all students involved in the fight walked under their own power to the assistant principal's office and the nurse's office. They also say the school nurse recommended that Benedict visit a medical facility for further examination even though it was determined that an ambulance wasn't required.
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Later that day, a school resource officer went to Bailey Medical Center – where Benedict was being examined. The school resource officer spoke with Benedict and their parent about a fight at Owasso High School.
Police said before this report, they had not received information about a fight at the high school on Feb. 7.
Benedict was released from the hospital but had to be rushed back the next day before police said they were transported to the St. Francis pediatric emergency room, where they later died.
The news of Benedict's death and the investigation has caught international attention. Their parents have set up a GoFundMe page to help Benedict's family. As of Wednesday, the page had raised almost $75,000.
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