Megan Trussell, One Year Later: What Still Doesn’t Add Up

Megan Trussell was an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Colorado Boulder, close with her family and loving her life in college. When her family realized no one had heard from her for a few days, they immediately knew something was wrong.

Megan’s parents attempted to report her missing, only to have campus authorities suggest she was likely couch surfing, despite the fact that Megan’s phone had not been used at all for several days. 

Once law enforcement focused fully on the case, investigators reconstructed a detailed timeline. Surveillance footage showed Megan leaving her dorm on the night of February 9, without a coat, with temperatures in the 20s. Her phone later pinged near the mouth of Boulder Canyon and then farther west along the canyon road. The area was known to be unsafe, and Megan was afraid of the dark. The walk would have taken her over an hour. 

How she reached that location has never been clearly explained. 

Megan’s body was found five days later on a steep, rocky slope near Boulder Canyon Drive. This discovery raised immediate concerns, particularly because extensive searches had already been conducted in that same area using drones and search dogs. Searchers were reportedly within feet of the location where she was eventually found, prompting questions about whether she had been there the entire time.

Megan was missing one shoe, and her sock was torn. Her jacket sleeve was ripped. She was lying on top of pants that did not belong to her. Her phone and beloved purse were also missing. Her purse was found miles away, and her cell phone was pawned by someone who claimed he had just found it. 

Although Megan’s parents were initially told there were no signs of trauma, the final autopsy report documented extensive injuries, including bruising, abrasions, contusions, broken teeth, and head injuries. Investigators later stated these injuries were consistent with the terrain, yet the pathologist who made that assessment did not visit the scene and could not definitively explain what happened. 

Megan’s death was ultimately ruled a suicide, based largely on toxicology results showing amphetamine in her system and the presence of a large amount of undigested pill material in her stomach. 

As a result, critical questions remain unanswered. How did Megan reach the canyon? Why were her phone and purse found days or weeks later in different locations? What happened to her shoe? Why was some evidence never tested? And how did an investigation with so many unresolved elements arrive at a definitive conclusion?

Megan’s family is asking for a complete re-examination of Megan’s death and a thorough investigation. 

On this week’s episode of Sins & Survivors, John and Shaun discuss the timeline, the evidence that was collected but never tested, and the multiple inconsistencies that remain unresolved. 

Listen now at sinspod.co/112

If you have any information relating to Megan's disappearance, call or text 678-636-9771, or email trusselltips@vigilante-pr.com

Megan’s family is also continuing to raise funds to support independent review, advocacy, and ongoing efforts to seek answers. You can learn more or contribute here: https://gofund.me/98224e3cc