Crime

Reddit Community r/MeganTrussell Takes a Dark Turn, Sparks Controversy with Anti-Police Sentiment and Conspiracy Theories #BoulderBoulder, CO – March 15, 2025 – What began as a space for discussion and updates surrounding the tragic death of University of Colorado Boulder student Megan Trussell has morphed into something far more contentious. The subreddit r/MeganTrussell, initially created to follow the investigation into the 18-year-old’s mysterious death in Boulder Canyon last month, has taken a sharp turn toward the dark side, with users growing increasingly anti-police, impatient, and prone to spinning elaborate conspiracy theories.

Megan Trussell’s body was discovered on February 15, 2025, near the 40-mile marker of Boulder Canyon Drive, days after she was reported missing by the CU Boulder Police Department. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has since led the investigation, but with the cause and manner of death still undetermined by the coroner’s office, the lack of concrete updates has fueled frustration among the subreddit’s 356 subscribers. What started as a community seeking answers has devolved into a breeding ground for distrust and speculation, raising eyebrows both locally and online. Posts on r/MeganTrussell have grown increasingly hostile toward law enforcement.

One highly upvoted thread from early March accused the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office of a cover-up, with a user writing, “The Boulder police department is just pathetic! Megan’s family deserves better.” Others have pointed to the discovery of Trussell’s purse—found last week miles away from her body along US-36—as evidence of foul play, despite official statements maintaining there’s no current indication of a threat to the community. “Most definitely was a threat to the community,” one commenter insisted. “How does her shoe go missing, purse is 5+ miles away from the body?”

The subreddit’s impatience has birthed a wave of conspiracy theories, some gaining traction with dozens of votes and comments. Theories range from plausible to outlandish: some users speculate Trussell’s roommate or an unknown assailant from a nearby encampment may be involved, while others suggest a broader institutional cover-up tied to the university or local government. “How’d she end up miles away in a place her body had to be ‘rappelled’ to up the canyon???????????? I’m a student at CU and that’s not possible,” one user questioned, casting doubt on the official narrative. Another thread posited that the slow pace of the investigation is deliberate, with a commenter noting, “If this was a Lockheed princess, this would have been solved within days.” The shift hasn’t gone unnoticed. Local residents and observers have expressed concern over the subreddit’s tone, with some suggesting it’s doing more harm than good for Trussell’s memory and her grieving family. “It’s honestly a little maddening,” a user wrote in response to a conspiracy-laden post, while another lamented, “She doesn’t deserve to be simply the next true crime case.”

Yet the community shows no signs of slowing down, with daily posts dissecting every update—or lack thereof—from authorities. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has remained tight-lipped, reiterating in their latest statement on March 11 that the investigation is ongoing and that additional testing is still needed to determine Trussell’s cause of death. This measured approach, however, has only poured fuel on the fire for r/MeganTrussell’s members, who see the silence as confirmation of their suspicions. As the subreddit veers further into anti-police rhetoric and unverified theories, it stands as a stark example of how online communities can spiral when faced with uncertainty. For now, Megan Trussell’s story remains unresolved, but the conversation around it has taken on a life of its own—one that’s increasingly dark, divisive, and detached from its original intent. Whether this shift will pressure authorities to release more information or simply deepen the divide between the public and law enforcement remains to be seen.