Nex Benedict's full autopsy is released and reveals the non-binary teen suffered from bipolar disorder, self-harmed and abused drugs before their heartbreaking suicide
- Nex Benedict's full autopsy has been released and reveals that the nonbinary teen suffered from multiple mental illnesses and substance abuse
- The 16-year-old's death was ruled a suicide and was the result of a lethal combination of prescription and over-the-counter drugs
- Nex collapsed one day after a fight broke out between the teen and three other girls in a school bathroom at their high school in Owasso
The autopsy of Nex Benedict has revealed the nonbinary teenager from Oklahoma suffered from multiple mental illnesses and abused drugs prior to their tragic suicide.
Nex's death last month sparked outrage after it was revealed that the 16-year-old collapsed one day after a fight with three other girls in the school bathroom of their high school in Owasso.
The death of the nonbinary 16-year-old led to a storm of protest among LGBTQ activists who accused Owasso Public Schools of ignoring the bullying Nex endured in a state where students can only use bathrooms reserved for their biological sex.
Now, a newly-released 11-page autopsy report determined that Nex's death was a suicide and that the teen had consumed a lethal combination of antidepressant and antihistamine.
It revealed that Nex's past medical history included bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and self-harm by cutting. The report also listed chronic tobacco abuse and chronic marijuana use.
The autopsy of Nex Benedict, 16, revealed that the transgender teenager from Oklahoma suffered from multiple mental illnesses and abused drugs prior to the tragic suicide
A newly-released 11-page autopsy report determined that Nex's death was a suicide and that the teen had consumed a lethal combination of antidepressant and antihistamine
According to the autopsy, Nex reported to have headaches and seizure-like activity before being found unresponsive.
The report found that 'antemortem history' included involvement in a 'physical altercation,' referencing the fight at school.
However, 'no lethal trauma' was found in the report, despite listing several head injuries that Nex suffered including contusions, lacerations, abrasions and hemorrhages.
Handwritten notes that were 'suggestive of self-harm' were found in Nex's bedroom by family members who showed the letters to law enforcement, according to the autopsy.
A preliminary summary of the report released on March 13 determined that Nex died as a result of 'combined toxicity' from mixing Diphenhydramine and Fluoxetine - but did not detail why the medical examiner believed the overdose to be a suicide.
But Nex's relatives issued a statement following the partial release of the teen's autopsy saying the full report shows the child suffered clear signs of 'physical trauma'.
'The Benedicts feel compelled to provide a summary of those findings which have not yet been released by the Medical Examiner's office,' the family said through their attorney.
'Particularly those that contradict the allegations of the assault on Nex being significant.
'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.'
According to the autopsy, Nex reported to have headaches and seizure-like activity before being found unresponsive
The death of the transgender 16-year-old led to a storm of protest among LGBTQ activists who accused Owasso Public Schools of ignoring the bullying Nex endured in a state where students can only use bathrooms reserved for their biological sex
Hundreds of people attended a candlelit vigil for Nex and their family in the nearby city of Tulsa
Police bodycam footage showed Nex describing the attack just two hours later as they were interviewed by officers in hospital on February 7.
'I got jumped at school,' Nex told the officer.
'They said something like "why do they laugh like that", and they were talking about us, in front of us,' Nex added. 'So I went up and poured water on them and all three of them came at me.'
Nex was released from hospital but readmitted the following day after the teen began losing consciousness.
The case became a flashpoint in Oklahoma which has vigorously cracked down on LGBT rights and currently has more than 40 bills on the issue passing through the state legislature including 14 aimed at changing school policies.
The state's schools' superintendent Ryan Walters blamed 'radical leftists' for the backlash, insisting: 'There's not multiple genders. There's two. That's how God created us.'
State senator Tom Woods (left) sparked fury after referring to trans people as 'filth' as he was questioned about the death'. The state's schools' superintendent Ryan Walters (right) blamed 'radical leftists' for the backlash
A walkout for Nex Benedict at Owasso High School on Monday, February 26
'I really see there's a civil war going on, where the left is really fighting for the soul of our country,' he added.
'They are undermining the very principles that made this country great, our Judeo-Christian values and our traditions in this country.'
Oklahoma state senator Tom Woods sparked fury after referring to trans people as 'filth' as he was questioned about the teen's death.
Insisting his 'heart goes out' to the family he told a community meeting that 'I represent a constituency that doesn't want that filth in Oklahoma'.
