The mother of Nex Benedict — the non-binary Oklahoma teen who was assaulted in a school bathroom and died the following day — is raising doubts about statements released by the local police. On Wednesday, the Owasso Police posted a statement to the department’s Facebook page, which appeared to defend the Owasso High School’s response to the February 7 incident. The statement also suggested that Nex’s death the following day was unrelated to the bathroom assault. In a text exchange with Popular Information, Sue Benedict, Nex’s mother, said she considered the Owasso Police statement a “big cover” and believed it was only released as “something to calm the people.”
The mother has already stated she intends to seek a fully independent investigation, with a second round with witnesses as well.
Really really sad & terrifying she is going to have to go out of pocket to not just seek justice for her child, but to simply get a straight answer on the record for cause of death.
Regardless of the COD, the assault should carry hate crime changes at a minimum.