State to review Megan Trussell death case
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Megan Trussell, 18, was found dead on Feb. 15 in Boulder Canyon. Photo courtesy of the Trussell family
The case of Megan Trussell, an 18-year-old University of Colorado Boulder student whose death last year was ruled a suicide, will be reviewed at the state level.
Why it matters: This marks the first time Trussell's case will be formally reviewed outside local law enforcement, following more than a year of efforts by her family to get a state review.
The latest: Trussell's family invoked a state law that requires a review when an Indigenous person's death is ruled a suicide or overdose under suspicious circumstances.
- Emails forwarded to Axios Boulder say representatives from the Division of Criminal Justice, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives met Thursday to discuss the case.
Between the lines: The Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives — and the law that mandates these reviews — were created by a state Senate bill in 2022.
Catch up quick: Trussell was found dead near the 40-mile marker on Boulder Canyon Drive on Feb. 15, 2025.
- The Boulder County Coroner's Office said she died from "toxic effects of amphetamine, and exposure to a cold environment," and the death was ruled a suicide.
- But Trussell's parents have questioned the findings of the investigation, requesting additional evidence testing and hiring a private investigator.
What they're saying: Trussell's mother, Vanessa Diaz, said the request for a state review is not "an allegation of wrongdoing" but an effort to address what the family views as unanswered questions.
- "There are unresolved gaps in the search timeline," Diaz said. "These gaps, along with inconsistencies in drone timestamps and missing records, raise serious questions about what was known and when."
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Ayuda disponible en español.