16-year-old Owasso student dead following possible hate crime

Note: An earlier version of this story identified the deceased as a Cherokee citizen following citizenship reports from their obituary, local community members and organizations. VNN has been unable to confirm this information from official sources and updated this report to reflect the facts available at this time. Tribal affiliation has also since been removed from their obituary.

(OWASSO, Okla.) The public is demanding answers and accountability following the death of 16-year-old Dagny “Nex” Benedict earlier this month.

Owasso Police Department (OPD) said they were called to Bailey Medical Center in Owasso on February 7 by a parent who said their child had been involved in a fight at the end of the school day.

Local media reported second-hand accounts of the incident which involved a student being beaten by three other students, including a student repeatedly having their head beaten against the floor.

Police said no report of the fight was made to Owasso Police prior to the notification at the hospital, including any communication to them by the school itself.

The student, later identified as Benedict by family, was rushed to the hospital the next day where they were pronounced dead.

Police said they have not officially linked the fight to Benedict’s death at this time and are awaiting the autopsy and toxicology reports, which VNN has also requested.

“In the meantime our investigators are conducting a very active and thorough investigation of the time and events that led up to the death of the student,” OPD Public Information Officer said. “I could not comment on any specific charge(s) because we do not want to make any rash conclusions about any part of the investigation or the cause of death.”

OPD offered their condolences to Benedict’s family, friends, fellow students and loved ones.

Benedict also received a police escort from both Owasso and Collinsville Police Departments during their funeral procession on February 15 to honor the teen and offer additional support.

While both Benedict’s obituary and a GoFundMe set up for their funeral costs referring to Benedict as “she/her”, community members have come forth identifying Benedict as non-binary with “they/their” pronouns.

VNN has chosen to refer to Benedict as the latter, due to the risk of misgendering the deceased.

Freedom Oklahoma, an organization that advocates for and supports 2SLGBTQ+ people, reported people who knew Benedict reached out to them so that they would be remembered “not only for a tragic death, but for pursuit of an authentic life”.

“Nex loved rock music, and often bonded with others over headbanging. Nex was unfailingly kind, and always searched for the best in people,” the post read in part.

Freedom Oklahoma said whether Benedict died as a direct result of injuries sustained in what they termed a "brutal hate-motivated attack" or not, their death was the result of being the target of physical and emotional harm because of who they were.

"This harm is absolutely related to the rhetoric and policies that are commonplace at the Oklahoma Legislature, the State Department of Education, and the Governor’s office, with regard to dehumanizing 2STGNC+ people," the organization said.

Benedict’s obituary as well as numerous organization articles and social media posts identified them as a Cherokee citizen, and VNN initially reported this as fact. Upon further investigation, their tribal status could not be confirmed through the Cherokee Nation or by law enforcement.

We reached out to Owasso Public Schools for comment about Benedict's death. They told us district leaders were notified the day of their death and additional counselors were available at the school but, due to the active police investigation, they have no further comment.

Freedom Oklahoma recommends the following 2SLGBTQ+ affirming crisis support organizations to those in need: Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860), the Trevor Project (call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678), and the LGBT Hotline (888-843-4564).

This article has been updated to include support information, a response to our request for comment from Owasso Public Schools, and to reflect the facts available regarding the deceased’s tribal status.

Check back to the VNN News Feed for updates on this developing story.