Megan Trussell review raises new questions
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Megan Trussell, 18. Photo: Courtesy of the Trussell family
A first-of-its-kind state review supports local authorities' conclusion that University of Colorado Boulder student Megan Trussell died by suicide in 2025.
Yes, but: Trussell's family tells Axios the review only deepened their concerns about the investigation and left them with "more questions than answers" about their daughter's death.
Driving the news: After a seven-month review, the CBI concluded last week that the Boulder County Sheriff's Office's response and investigation were "reasonable, substantial, and supported by the available evidence."
- CBI presented the case to its roughly 40-member Cold Case Review Team, including prosecutors, investigators, forensic specialists, toxicologists, analysts and victim advocates.
- The review found no evidence of homicide or physical assault and no unfinished investigative step that would have changed the determination that Trussell died by suicide.
The other side: Trussell's parents sharply criticized the process, telling Axios Boulder that reviewers appeared unprepared in a meeting to present the findings last week.
- "There was a lot of shoulder shrugging," her father Joe Trussell told Axios Boulder.
- They said CBI didn't know until their meeting that family members had located Megan's phone and key video evidence.
- Meanwhile, the CBI agent that the Trussell family worked with throughout the review was on vacation and not present.
- They also said a pathologist at the meeting repeatedly referred to the substance in Megan's body as "meth" rather than the prescription amphetamine.
What they're saying: Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson thanked the CBI in a statement.
- "We recognize that none of these findings lessen the profound grief felt by Megan's family and loved ones.
- "We also recognize the importance of independent review to her family and the community, and we hope it brings some measure of closure and understanding."
Between the lines: Trussell's family requested the review — the first granted under a provision of Colorado's 2022 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives law.
- "I think the intent behind the law is great," Trussell told us. "But the law as it's written, is broad and vague and allows entirely too much latitude for the CBI.
- "That's what I would tell a family in our situation: Do not expect results until this law is tweaked."
- Trussell's mother Vanessa Diaz said they didn't conduct any outside investigation or interviews.
What's next: The family says they plan to seek Trussell's complete autopsy report and photographs, which have repeatedly been denied by the coroner's office.
- They'd like to have the materials reviewed by an independent expert. But Diaz worries that won't happen before tissue samples are destroyed, and is pleading with other state officials to step in.
- "[The CBI] made a mistake … because now we're just gonna be really loud and the people who are in power, the people who are in office, they have some answering to do."
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Ayuda disponible en español.