CU News
News from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Petition to Reopen Investigation into CU Boulder Student’s Death Gains Traction
Aug 28th
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
Reddit Community r/MeganTrussell Takes a Dark Turn, anti Police
Mar 15th
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.
Toxicology Report could tell what happened to Megan Trussell
Mar 15th
As of March 15, 2025, the Boulder County Coroner’s Office has not publicly released a toxicology report or any specific findings related to Megan Trussell’s death. Since the coroner’s official cause and manner of death remain undetermined, I can explore the role of toxicology reports in such investigations and their potential relevance to this case based on general knowledge and standard forensic practices.
What Are Toxicology Reports?
Toxicology reports are forensic analyses conducted during an autopsy to detect the presence of drugs, alcohol, poisons, or other substances in a deceased person’s system. These tests typically examine samples of blood, urine, vitreous humor (eye fluid), or tissue to determine whether substances contributed to or caused the death. Results can take several weeks to months due to the complexity of testing, laboratory backlogs, and the need for confirmation through multiple methods (e.g., gas chromatography-mass spectrometry).
In cases like Megan Trussell’s—where the cause of death is not immediately apparent—toxicology is a standard part of the coroner’s process. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office noted on February 18, 2025, that “additional testing” would be conducted following the autopsy, which often includes toxicology. However, no updates have specified whether toxicology results are complete or what they might reveal.
Relevance to Megan Trussell’s Case
Megan Trussell was found deceased on February 15, 2025, in a remote area of Boulder Canyon, with her purse later recovered on March 5 near U.S. 36, her phone and one shoe still missing, and no clear evidence of foul play according to the sheriff’s office (March 12 update). The condition of her belongings—particularly the torn purse—has raised questions from her family about a possible struggle, but authorities have not confirmed this. Without visible trauma or an obvious external cause reported, toxicology could play a key role in determining whether substances (e.g., alcohol, prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or environmental toxins) were factors in her death.
Possible scenarios where toxicology might be relevant include:
-
Accidental Overdose: If Trussell consumed a substance that impaired her judgment or physical ability, it could explain how she ended up in a hard-to-reach area not typical for casual hiking.
-
Environmental Exposure: Given the remote location and February weather conditions, hypothermia or poisoning (e.g., carbon monoxide from an unknown source) might be considered, though these are less directly tied to toxicology.
-
Intentional Ingestion: If self-harm is under investigation (a possibility her family has reportedly downplayed), toxicology could identify substances linked to such an act.
Current Status and Delays
The coroner conducted an autopsy on February 18, 2025, but as of the sheriff’s March 12 statement, the cause and manner of death remain pending. Toxicology results typically take 4–12 weeks in Colorado, depending on lab capacity and case complexity. Assuming standard timelines, results might be expected between mid-March and late April 2025—meaning they could be available now or still forthcoming. The lack of an update suggests either the tests are incomplete or the findings are not yet public, possibly due to the ongoing investigation or family notification protocols.
Challenges and Limitations
-
Decomposition: Trussell’s body was found six days after she was last seen (February 9). Depending on environmental conditions (cold temperatures in Boulder Canyon might slow decomposition), sample quality could affect results.
-
Missing Context: Without her phone or complete scene evidence, toxicology alone might not explain how she reached the location or why her belongings were scattered.
-
Non-Conclusive Findings: Negative results (no substances detected) wouldn’t rule out other causes like a fall, medical event, or hypothermia.
What’s Next?
Until the Boulder County Coroner’s Office releases its report, the role of toxicology in Trussell’s death remains speculative. The sheriff’s office has maintained there’s no threat to the community and, as of March 12, stated foul play is not suspected—possibly hinting that preliminary findings (including toxicology) lean toward a non-criminal explanation. However, without official confirmation, this is an educated guess.
For definitive answers, the coroner’s final report—expected to include toxicology if relevant—will be critical. Given the current date, it’s possible results are in hand but not yet disclosed. The family’s public concerns and the unusual circumstances (torn purse, missing items) suggest pressure for transparency may grow if delays persist. For now, the absence of released toxicology data keeps this aspect of the investigation an open question.
