ATTENTION. ABIGAIL. JESS. THEY EXPRESSED A SENSE OF SADNESS AT THE LOSS OF NECKS, BUT ALSO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYS THEY DIED. FREEDOM, OKLAHOMA IS NOW CALLING ON OUR SCHOOLS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO BETTER N MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS ACCEPTED AND JUST THIS GREAT SENSE OF GRIEF AND RAGE, NICOLE MCAFEE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FREEDOM OKLAHOMA! REACTING TO THE NEW MEDICAL EXAMINER RULING THAT NEXT BENEDICT DIED BY SUICIDE, ACCORDING TO THE ONE PAGE REPORT, IT SAYS NEXT IS PROBABLE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS A COMBINATION OF TOXICITY OF TWO DRUGS, DIFFERENT HYDRAZINE, MOST COMMONLY KNOWN AS BENADRYL, AND FLUOXETINE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PROZAC. NOW THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT WEIGHED INTO INFORMATION WE KNOW ABOUT THE HEAD TRAUMA AND OTHER FACED THE NONBINARY 16 YEAR OLD PASSED AWAY ONE DAY AFTER GETTING INTO A FIGHT IN THE OWASSO HIGH SCHOOL BATHROOM. MCAFEE SAYS THIS NEWS SHOULD CREATE CONVERSATION AND ACTION ABOUT BULLYING IN SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE MOST VULNERABLE. SO MUCH OF OF THE HARM THAT WE HEAR FROM STUDENTS IS RHETORIC THAT IS BEING PARROTED FROM PEOPLE IN POWER. OKLAHOMA’S MOST POWERFUL EDUCATOR, STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS, RELEASING A STATEMENT TO KOCO SAYING, QUOTE, THE LOSS OF OUR STUDENT IN OWASSO IS TRAGIC FOR THE FAMILY, THE COMMUNITY AND OUR STATE. THE LGBTQ GROUPS PUSHING A FALSE NARRATIVE ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS TO OUR DEMOCRACY, AND I REMAIN MORE THAN EVER COMMITTED TO NEVER BACKING DOWN FROM A WOKE MOB. MEANWHILE, OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL JENNER DRUMMOND SAYING, MY HEART IS BROKEN OVER THE TRAGIC DEATH OF NEXT BENEDICT. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S FINDING OF SUICIDE MAKES ME EVEN MORE CONCERNED THAT BULLYING PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS TERRIBLE LOSS TO BE IN THIS STATE WHERE IT SOMETIMES SEEMS, CAN FEEL LIKE WE ARE POWERLESS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAFE. AND WE DO EXPECT THAT FULL MEDICAL EXAMINER’S REPORT IN THE COMING DAYS. AND WEEKS. THERE’S ALSO A RALLY IN NEXT TO HONOR IT SET FOR TOMORROW AT 130 AT THE STATE CAPITOL
Medical examiner's report on Nex Benedict's death prompts reaction from LGBTQ+ community
Reactions poured in on Wednesday after the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office ruled Nex Benedict died by suicide
Updated: 10:12 PM CDT Mar 13, 2024
Reactions poured in on Wednesday after the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office ruled Nex Benedict died by suicide. | MORE | ME lists manner of death for 16-year-old nonbinary student Nex Benedict as suicideBenedict was a 16-year-old nonbinary student who died one day after a fight in an Owasso High School bathroom. The story captured national attention and prompted a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education. The leader of Freedom Oklahoma, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ Oklahomans, expressed a sense of sadness for the loss of the teenager and how the medical examiner said they died. The organization also called on Oklahoma schools, communities and leaders to do a better job in making everyone feel accepted and welcome. "Just this great sense of grief and rage," said Nicole McAfee, the executive director of Freedom Oklahoma. The one-page summary autopsy report said that Benedict's probable cause of death was combined toxicity of two drugs. Diphenhydramine, more commonly known as Benadryl, and Fluoxetine, otherwise known as Prozac, were discovered by the medical examiner. McAfee said this news should create conversation and action about bullying in schools, especially against the most vulnerable. "So much of the harm that we hear from students is rhetoric that is being parroted from people in power," McAfee said. Oklahoma's most powerful educator, state Superintendent Ryan Walters, released a statement to KOCO 5. "The loss of our student in Owasso is tragic for the family, the community, and our state. The LGBTQ groups pushing a false narrative are one of the biggest threats to our democracy and I remain, more than ever, committed to never backing down from a woke mob," Walters said. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond also released a statement after the summary autopsy report was released. "My heart is broken over the tragic death of Nex Benedict. The Medical Examiner’s finding of suicide makes me even more concerned that bullying played a role in this terrible loss," Drummond's statement said in part. >> Download the KOCO 5 AppA rally in Benedict's honor is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the state Capitol's South Plaza. "To be in this state, where it can sometimes feel like we are powerless, to make sure that young people are safe," McAfee said. Top Headlines Nex Benedict Autopsy: ME rules teen's manner of death as suicide TIMELINE: Storms could bring big hail, tornado risk to Oklahoma on Wednesday Oklahoma driver baffled after hitting, killing kangaroo on highway Former city employee charged with embezzling more than $20,000 from Edmond Oklahomans say cost to renew vehicle registration is a barrier to drivers Facebook hackers steal $14,000 from Oklahoma event organizer
Reactions poured in on Wednesday after the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office ruled Nex Benedict died by suicide.
| MORE | ME lists manner of death for 16-year-old nonbinary student Nex Benedict as suicide
Benedict was a 16-year-old nonbinary student who died one day after a fight in an Owasso High School bathroom. The story captured national attention and prompted a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education.
The leader of Freedom Oklahoma, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ Oklahomans, expressed a sense of sadness for the loss of the teenager and how the medical examiner said they died. The organization also called on Oklahoma schools, communities and leaders to do a better job in making everyone feel accepted and welcome.
"Just this great sense of grief and rage," said Nicole McAfee, the executive director of Freedom Oklahoma.
The one-page summary autopsy report said that Benedict's probable cause of death was combined toxicity of two drugs. Diphenhydramine, more commonly known as Benadryl, and Fluoxetine, otherwise known as Prozac, were discovered by the medical examiner.
McAfee said this news should create conversation and action about bullying in schools, especially against the most vulnerable.
"So much of the harm that we hear from students is rhetoric that is being parroted from people in power," McAfee said.
Oklahoma's most powerful educator, state Superintendent Ryan Walters, released a statement to KOCO 5.
"The loss of our student in Owasso is tragic for the family, the community, and our state. The LGBTQ groups pushing a false narrative are one of the biggest threats to our democracy and I remain, more than ever, committed to never backing down from a woke mob," Walters said.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond also released a statement after the summary autopsy report was released.
"My heart is broken over the tragic death of Nex Benedict. The Medical Examiner’s finding of suicide makes me even more concerned that bullying played a role in this terrible loss," Drummond's statement said in part.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
A rally in Benedict's honor is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the state Capitol's South Plaza.
"To be in this state, where it can sometimes feel like we are powerless, to make sure that young people are safe," McAfee said.
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