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DENVER (KDVR) The Boulder County Coroner’s Office confirmed Tuesday that a body recovered from along Boulder Canyon on Saturday is that of 18-year-old Megan Trussell.
Family and friends gathered on Monday to honor her life near where her body was recovered. Authorities said over the weekend that the body matched the description of Trussell, and said they are still investigating what led to her death.
affiliate KDVR has asked the coroner’s office about a possible manner of death, but has not received a response yet.
On Feb. 16, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office reported it had crews in the area to recover her body, stating that her remains were found in a hard-to-reach location that required rappelling to reach her.
Trussell was last seen at her residence hall on Feb. 9, according to a CU Boulder Public Safety spokesperson’s email. She was reported missing on Feb. 12.
“Based on our joint investigation thus far, we do not believe that there is, or was, a threat to the community,” the sheriff’s office said in a release Tuesday. Additional testing by the coroner’s office will be conducted, the sheriff’s office reported.
On Monday, Trussell’s dad told FOX31’s Nicole Fierro that he texted his two daughters last week to make plans with them, but didn’t hear back from Megan.
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CU Boulder police shared this photo of Megan Trussell, last seen Sunday, Feb. 9. (Courtesy University of Colorado Boulder Police Department) -
Megan Trussell was last seen Sunday, Feb. 9 wearing a blue/gray jacket, dark colored yoga-style pants and white platform sneakers. (Courtesy University of Colorado Boulder Police Department) -
Family held a memorial for an 18-year-old CU student after a body matching her description was found along Boulder Canyon. (KDVR)
“When she didn’t respond, I texted her mom and said, ‘Have you heard from Megan? Because it’s kind of weird that I haven’t heard from her,’” he told Fierro. “And from there, we started looking for her immediately. It’s like, I feel like something’s wrong. And we looked at her phone data and found that she hadn’t heard anything since Sunday.”
Joe said he and Megan’s mother will continue to “stay on the police” as the investigation progresses.
“It’s about processing this. It’s about dealing with the grief. It’s about, for me, it’s about finding ways to help other people when the time comes,” Joe told Fierro. “I don’t know what’s next. Every day has been different. I was balled up on the floor for most of yesterday.”
Megan was remembered Monday as someone who found humor in life circumstances and would “play it to the hill,” according to Joe.
“She just made people happy. The best way that I can help Megan is to show grace and love to everybody who has shown us so much grace and love and help anybody who needs help. I believe that Megan is in a better place,” Joe said Monday.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that it had contacted the family and asked for patience in the investigation.
“We understand the community’s concerns and are committed to gathering all relevant facts,” the sheriff’s office said. “Unfortunately, it is too soon to determine what caused the death.”
Trussell’s family is asking anyone who was in the Boulder Canyon area the night of Feb. 9, to reach out to the sheriff’s office and save any surveillance video from the area that night. On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said it is still interested in hearing from anyone who may have information “about Megan’s movements on Sunday, Feb. 9, the last day she was seen alive, or any relevant information.” That information can be shared to BCSOtips@bouldercounty.gov.
