On Monday morning, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced that the investigation into the death of 18-year-old Megan Trussell, a student at the University of Colorado Boulder who was found dead on February 15, had concluded. The BCSO said that the investigation was completed in collaboration with the Boulder County Coroner’s Office (BCCO).
“The Office of the Boulder County Coroner, based on the examination and investigative findings available at this time, has issued an opinion that Megan Trussell died as the result of the toxic effects of amphetamine, and exposure to a cold environment (hypothermia) contributed to her death,” the post by BCSO stated. “It is a further opinion, that the manner of death is suicide.”
Boulder County Coroner Jeff Martin said that the opinion on the cause of death was based on toxicology results and the “presence of undigested prescription medication found during the examination.”
“We understand this investigation took longer than many hoped,” said Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson. “This outcome is heartbreaking, and our hope is that the findings may bring some closure to Megan’s loved ones and to the broader community. Our office typically refrains from releasing detailed information in suicide cases out of respect for the family and to prevent further harm, but we are sharing additional details due to the widespread public concern.”
Trussell was last seen leaving CU Boulder campus on February 9. She was reported missing on February 12. On February 15, her body was discovered near the 40-mile marker on Boulder Canyon Drive.
The BCSO said that Trussell's phone was traced to a “resale kiosk at a Boulder grocery store” on March 2. “It had been sold by 50-year-old Elliot Michael Beafore, an unhoused individual who reported receiving it from another unhoused man,” BCSO said. “Beafore was arrested on May 14 and charged with Theft (Misdemeanor 3) and False Declaration to a Pawnbroker (Misdemeanor 2). He has since been released on bond.”
On March 5, Trussell's purse was found by a community member near the 40-mile marker of Highway 36 along the bike path. “The community member had looked inside the purse and found an empty prescription bottle with Megan’s name on it, leading her to call the Boulder County Communications Center,” the BCSO said. “The purse was ultimately traced back to the same area in Boulder Canyon where Megan’s body was recovered.”
According to the BCSO, the investigation was a coordinated effort involving the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab, the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “A thorough review of security footage, cell phone records, key card access logs, and witness statements was instrumental in establishing Megan’s movements on the evening of February 9,” the sheriff’s office stated.
The sheriff’s office said that there is no evidence to suggest that Trussell was physically harmed or killed by another person. The office recommended in its statement that anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, or who knows someone who may be struggling, should reach out for help: free and confidential mental health support is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org.
