The remains of a University of Colorado-Boulder student, Megan Trussell, who had been reported missing, are believed to have been discovered by Colorado law enforcement in a remote, hard-to-reach location. Trussell, 18, was last seen on Sunday, February 9, in her dormitory, wearing dark yoga pants, a blue-gray jacket, and white platform sneakers.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office informed the University of Colorado Police Department (CUPD) about the discovery of a deceased individual whose description matched that of Trussell. The body was located near mile marker 40 in Boulder Canyon, as per a statement issued by the university’s police department on Saturday. The CUPD is in the process of confirming additional details and will provide further information as it becomes available.
The Boulder County coroner is scheduled to conduct an autopsy to verify the identity of the deceased and to ascertain the cause of death. The CUPD had received a missing persons report for Trussell on Wednesday, February 12.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office was notified about the presence of a deceased female by the Open Space and Mountain Parks rangers at approximately 10:40 a.m. on February 14. State and local agencies have been collaborating to investigate Trussell’s disappearance and now, possibly, her death.
The body was discovered in a difficult location, requiring a technical evacuation that included rappelling, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. The circumstances surrounding Trussell’s disappearance last week and what might have led her to Boulder Canyon Drive remain uncertain.
Boulder Canyon Drive was temporarily closed to allow authorities to safely recover the body and conduct an investigation in the area. This was due to hazardous road conditions created by the weather.