Full autopsy report for Nex Benedict released
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — After weeks of waiting, the full autopsy report for the Owasso teen who died after being in an altercation at school is released.
The above video is from past reporting.
A summary autopsy report was released March 13, more than a month after the death of nonbinary 16-year-old Nex Benedict, a student at Owasso High School. Family members said Benedict had been bullied at school and the teenager's death in February drew concern from LGBTQ+ rights groups, as well as attention from Oklahoma's governor and the White House.
In a 911 call on Feb. 8, Sue Benedict — the teen's grandmother and legal guardian — had expressed concern about a head injury. The teenager was conscious and alert after the fight a day earlier when they told police about the attack by three girls that occurred after the teen squirted them with water, according to police video released last month.
The preliminary autopsy stated the cause of death was suicide.
The complete report goes into more detail about how the coroner came to this conclusion.
The detailed report shows Benedict had Diphenhydramine, Fluoxetine, Norfluoxetine, and trace amounts of dextromethorphan, and norchlorcyclizine in their system.
The document notes that Benedict used the preferred first name, Nex, but the legal document reflects the legal name of the teen.
"In my opinion, based on the circumstances surrounding death and the findings at autopsy, that Dagney Benedict died as a result of diphenhydramine and fluoxetine combined toxicity. The manner of death is suicide," Ross Miller, MD.
Past medical history included bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and self harm, chronic tobacco abuse, and chronic marijuana abuse. The report goes on to show that handwritten notes that are suggestive of self-harm were found in Benedict's room which were provided by the family and given to law enforcement.