Megan Trussell's family hires PI to probe 18-year-old's death
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Megan Trussell, 18, was found dead on Feb. 15 in Boulder Canyon. Photo: Courtesy of the Trussell family
The parents of Megan Trussell hired a private investigator to dig deeper into the University of Colorado student's February death.
The big picture: The family says the official investigation left too many unanswered questions about how the 18-year-old died — and they believe the PI could uncover what law enforcement did not.
- Trussell's death was ruled a suicide due to amphetamine toxicity and hypothermia, but the family said they do not believe their daughter took her own life and felt the investigation by the Boulder County sheriff's and coroner's offices was not thorough.
The latest: At the family's request, the Boulder County Coroner's Office conducted a test on a softball-size mass found in Trussell's stomach.
- The test results in mid-July confirmed only the presence of ethanol from decomposition and amphetamine, the key ingredient in Adderall, for which Trussell had a prescription.
- But the family said the test still does not prove Trussell took the pills willingly or how she obtained enough pills to create such a mass in her stomach.
What he's saying: "One thing that kind of gets me is how it's being portrayed that this is conclusive," father Joe Trussell said. "It's not. It's another piece of evidence that raises more questions than answers."
Reality check: Even before the findings were released, the family had considered hiring outside help.
- The sheriff's office stands by the integrity of its investigation, but officials said they do reopen cases if new evidence arises.
Between the lines: Megan Trussell's mother, Vanessa Diaz, said one of the PI's responsibilities will be facilitating third-party evidence testing, adding that when she asked the coroner to test the mass for food or other minerals, she was told a private lab would be needed.
- The family said other evidence from the scene, including DNA, was never sent for testing.
What's next: Joe Trussell said the coroner's conclusion and the hiring of a private investigator feel like "the end of a phase" but that the family was "not going to stop."
- "It just means we are aligning our resources in a different way," he told Axios.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Ayuda disponible en español.