The University of Colorado Boulder community is in deep mourning following the tragic loss of 18-year-old Megan Trussell, a bright and promising student whose life was cut short after she was reported missing and later found deceased in Boulder Canyon.
Megan’s disappearance triggered an extensive search operation that involved multiple law enforcement agencies, volunteers, and her distraught family members. Around 10:41 a.m. on Saturday, park rangers located a body in a remote, rugged section of Boulder Canyon that authorities believe to be Megan’s.
The discovery was made in an area described as “hard-to-reach terrain” near the 40-mile marker on Boulder Canyon Drive, necessitating a technical evacuation that required first responders to use rappelling techniques. While officials have yet to officially confirm the identity of the body, the physical description closely matched that of Megan Trussell. The Boulder County Coroner’s Office is now investigating to determine the precise cause and manner of her death.
Megan was last seen on Sunday, February 9, around 9 p.m. when she departed from Hallett Hall, her dormitory at CU Boulder. At the time, she was wearing a blue jacket, dark-colored yoga pants, and white platform sneakers. Her sudden absence immediately raised alarm among her family, friends, and campus authorities.
In response, a coordinated search was launched by CU Boulder police in collaboration with local and state law enforcement, as well as volunteer groups. This concerted effort involved the use of drones, search and rescue dogs, and a dive team that scoured Boulder Canyon Drive in hopes of finding any trace of her.
Throughout the ordeal, Megan’s parents, Vanessa Diaz and Joe Trussell, remained steadfast in their efforts, spending hours in a CU Boulder Police conference room as investigators worked relentlessly to locate their daughter. A breakthrough came when the FBI tracked Megan’s phone activity, noting that her device had last connected to a cell tower in Boulder Canyon around midnight on Sunday. Alarmed by the absence of any calls or messages from her since then, Vanessa Diaz promptly filed a missing person’s report and rushed from Denver to Boulder to support the search.
The heartbreaking news of Megan’s death has reverberated throughout the CU Boulder community. Friends and classmates recall her as a kind, intelligent, and ambitious young woman, eager to make a positive impact on the world. Faculty and peers alike describe Megan as someone who brought warmth and enthusiasm to every aspect of her life—whether in the classroom or during time spent with friends.
Megan Trussell’s untimely passing leaves a profound void among those who knew her, and her memory will undoubtedly inspire all who were touched by her generous spirit and vibrant energy.