Missing person posters for Megan Trussell are still up around the University of Colorado Boulder, but Megan is no longer missing. Sadly, her family and friends are mourning her loss as they remember the 18-year-old student.
Megan was last seen on Sunday, February 9, on campus. After days of searching, her body was discovered in a remote area of Boulder Canyon on February 15.
A native of Denver, Megan graduated from Northfield High School. Her mother shared that Megan had Indigenous roots and that her family has been in Colorado for generations. She is survived by her parents, a sister who studies at CU Boulder, and many others who loved her dearly. A recent gathering was held where friends and family remembered Megan as a unique, funny person with a talent for playing the bass guitar.
“She just made people happy,” her father, Joe Trussell, said. Megan had been texting her family leading up to her disappearance, but when her father reached out on February 12, he received no response, which he found unusual.
Worried, her family contacted the police. They soon learned that Megan hadn’t been seen since that Sunday and hadn’t used her phone since then, sparking panic. “Just terror. Everything about this is bad,” Joe expressed.
After the tragic news of her passing, the community came together to honor Megan’s memory. People left candles, pictures, and stuffed animals at a memorial established by her family. Joe thanked everyone for the support during this difficult time. “The outpouring of love and support has just been overwhelming,” he said during a vigil in Boulder Canyon.
Megan’s family finds some comfort in being together and in believing that she is at peace now. “I believe that Megan is in a better place,” Joe shared, adding that he feels signs reassuring him about her well-being.
The family has been deeply touched by the support from friends and strangers alike. “I feel so grateful to have so many people that care about us,” Joe noted. He believes the best way to honor Megan is to seek answers and heal from the pain of their loss. He’s confident that local investigators will uncover the truth about what happened to her.
Megan’s unexpected death has left a heart-wrenching void in her family and community, and her story has drawn attention from many beyond Boulder. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is investigating her death and aims to provide answers soon. They are committed to gathering all relevant facts and have advised anyone with information to come forward.