Crime

Boulder, CO – August 28, 2025 – A petition urging authorities to revisit the investigation into the death of University of Colorado Boulder student Megan Trussell has garnered over 1,000 signatures, fueled by ongoing concerns from her family and supporters. The 18-year-old’s death in February 2025 was officially ruled a suicide by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office, but questions about the case persist, prompting calls for further scrutiny.

Megan Trussell was found deceased near the 40-mile marker of Boulder Canyon Drive on February 15, 2025, six days after she was last seen leaving her dorm, Hallett Hall, on February 9. The Boulder County Coroner’s Office determined her death resulted from the toxic effects of amphetamine, with hypothermia as a contributing factor, classifying it as a suicide. The ruling was based on toxicology results, undigested prescription medication found during the autopsy, and other investigative findings, according to Coroner Jeff Martin.

Trussell’s family, led by her mother Vanessa Diaz, disputes the suicide determination, citing what they believe are inconsistencies in the investigation conducted by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO). Diaz has pointed to details such as Trussell’s purse being found nearly six miles from her body and her body missing one shoe. Additionally, some of Trussell’s belongings were found scattered in the area near homeless encampments along Boulder Canyon Drive during the week her body lay undiscovered. Detectives interviewed members of the local unhoused community and recovered items, including Trussell’s phone, which was sold at a resale kiosk by an individual who claimed no direct contact with her. The BCSO concluded there was no evidence of foul play involving those interviewed.

The Change.org petition, launched by Trussell’s cousin Rebecca Perez, calls on the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Attorney General Phil Weiser to reopen the case. The petition gained significant traction following the release of the University of Colorado Police Department (CUPD) case report on August 25, 2025, which outlined how investigators determined Trussell walked from her dorm to the location where her body was found in approximately one hour and 15 minutes. The family questions how she could have made this journey alone, given the distance, terrain, and scattered belongings.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office described the situation as “heartbreaking” but has not commented further on the petition. Sheriff Curtis Johnson previously stated that the investigation, which involved CUPD, the FBI, and local forensic teams, was thorough. The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office supported this conclusion, stating, “Our review included the Coroner’s determination, autopsy findings, police reports, witness interviews, video evidence, cellphone data, and more.” They found no evidence to support a criminal case.
Diaz remains resolute in seeking answers. “When I hear about support like this, it just makes me feel so uplifted and hopeful,” she said of the petition. The family has hired a private investigator and lawyer and is pursuing an independent autopsy. They are also distributing care packages to the unhoused community in hopes of gathering new information about Trussell’s final days.
The CU Boulder community continues to grapple with the loss. “This has been an incredibly difficult time,” said Interim Chief of Police John Monahan. The university has made counseling and support services available to students and staff.

As the petition circulates, the family awaits further testing of the pill material found in Trussell’s stomach, hoping it will provide clarity. The investigation remains closed, but the sheriff’s office has indicated it could be reopened if new evidence emerges.
For those in need of support, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office encourages contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
Channel 1 News, Boulder