US Federal Officials Launch Investigation into Oklahoma School District Following Non-Binary Pupil’s Death

Authorities in the United States have initiated a probe into an Oklahoma school district where a non-binary high school student tragically passed away after a confrontation last month, as detailed in a letter from the US Department of Education.

The student, Nex Benedict, succumbed to injuries sustained during a fight inside a girls’ restroom at Owasso High School, with family members revealing that the 16-year-old had been a victim of bullying.

According to Nex’s relatives, the teenager identified as non-binary and preferred the use of they/them pronouns.

The letter announcing the investigation was sent to the Human Rights Campaign, which had called on the department to examine Owasso Public Schools and their handling of “sex-based harassment that may have contributed to the tragic death.”

Authorities in the Tulsa suburb have not disclosed the cause of Nex’s death but have stated that it was not directly linked to the altercation that occurred on February 8th.

The Office for Civil Rights within the Department of Education indicated that the investigation would focus on whether the school district “failed to appropriately address alleged harassment,” as outlined in the letter, which did not mention Nex by name.

Owasso Public Schools acknowledged receipt of the notification regarding the investigation and dismissed the allegations as baseless and lacking in substance.

“The district is committed to collaborating with federal officials,” the statement from the school district emphasised.

Neither law enforcement nor school officials have provided details regarding the circumstances that led to the altercation. However, Nex’s family has stated that the teenager faced harassment due to their non-binary identity.

Kelley Robinson, the President of the Human Rights Campaign, expressed gratitude for the Department of Education’s prompt response to their complaint and the initiation of an investigation. Robinson stressed the need for swift action to ensure justice for Nex and to create a safe environment for all students at Owasso High School and across Oklahoma, free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

Following the altercation on February 7th, Nex exited the restroom but was later taken to a hospital by family members and returned home that evening.

Emergency services were called to the family home the next day due to a medical emergency involving Nex, who was then transported to a hospital emergency room and subsequently passed away, as confirmed by the police.

Nex’s mother, Sue Benedict, disclosed that the teenager had sustained facial bruising during the altercation, which reportedly involved a transgender student and three older girls.

The school district maintained that the students were in the restroom for less than two minutes before the altercation was halted by other students and a staff member.