Her Injuries Don’t Match What Police Say Happened... The Suspicious Death of Megan Trussell

Summary

Josh introduces the case of Megan Trussell, a University of Colorado Boulder freshman whose death authorities ruled a suicide. Her family disputes that conclusion and believes important evidence and alternative explanations were not adequately investigated. Megan’s parents, Vanessa Diaz and Joe Trussell, describe her as creative, funny, independent, close to her family, and excited about college and her film studies.

Events before Megan’s disappearance

Megan’s parents say tension had been growing between her and her roommate, Haley, over dorm rules and guests. On the night Megan disappeared, an argument occurred after Haley unexpectedly returned to the room while Megan’s boyfriend was visiting. Megan later left the dorm.

Campus footage showed Megan walking normally, wearing a light jacket and carrying a distinctive bag her mother had made. Her family questions claims that she was distressed or wandering aimlessly. They say there is no confirmed footage of her leaving campus and that several cameras along a possible route were reportedly not working.

Megan’s phone later registered two location pings in Boulder Canyon, a long, uphill walk from campus in freezing conditions. Her parents doubt she would have gone there voluntarily, noting that she disliked uncomfortable outdoor settings and had never been in the canyon. Her body was found on February 15 near a culvert used as shelter by unhoused people. The family says searchers had previously been directed to the area and questions how she could have been missed.

The family’s concerns about the investigation

Megan’s parents describe what they see as serious shortcomings in the response to her disappearance. They say authorities initially suggested she might be couch surfing, used an outdated photo in a missing-person alert, did not promptly notify students, and were slow to act on the family’s concerns. They also recount difficulties obtaining records and say investigators did not initially interview them or follow up on some tips.

The family’s concerns deepened after learning that Megan had sustained numerous injuries, despite initially being told she had only minor trauma. They cite broken teeth, bruising, abrasions, and injuries on both sides of her body, including a large bruise on her arm. They argue that the injuries do not fit a simple fall and raise the possibility that Megan was moved or injured elsewhere.

They also question the evidence from the scene:

• Megan’s phone and purse were missing, and one shoe was never found.
• A purse strap was torn, and a blood sample from the culvert was reportedly not tested.
• The purse was later found several miles away, and the family says some items from it were discarded.

Cause-of-death findings

Authorities attributed Megan’s death to amphetamine effects and exposure to cold. Her parents challenge that conclusion, citing a reported amphetamine level of 1,900 nanograms per milliliter, which they say was below the average figure for amphetamine fatalities cited in the toxicology report.

They also say the amount and nature of material found in Megan’s stomach and esophagus were not properly established before the suicide ruling, and that only a small portion was later identified as amphetamine. They question whether the findings support a claim of drug-induced psychosis and argue that accidental disorientation or other possibilities should have been considered.

These are the family’s interpretations; the interview does not independently establish what happened.

Concerns involving a deputy

The parents describe concerns involving an unnamed Boulder County deputy. They say a woman who had been in a relationship with the deputy reported that he contacted her around the time Megan disappeared, and that a vehicle resembling his appeared repeatedly in campus footage.

The family says the deputy was present when they learned Megan’s body had been found. They later learned he had been arrested in a separate domestic-violence case and resigned. The parents stress that they lack definitive evidence tying him to Megan’s death. Their suspicions remain circumstantial, and the deputy is not named in the interview.

The family’s ongoing efforts

Vanessa and Joe say the Colorado Bureau of Investigation reviewed the case and upheld the original findings, while the case remains closed. They are pursuing their own investigation, seeking expert reviews of the autopsy materials, and trying to preserve evidence before samples are no longer retained. They say the effort is costly and that they have received little cooperation from authorities.

The episode urges viewers to support the family’s fundraising and petition, share relevant tips, and pay attention to local officials and proposed changes to how missing college students are handled.

Presenters and contributors

• Josh — Presenter
• Kendall — Presenter
• Vanessa Diaz — Guest; Megan’s mother
• Joe Trussell — Guest; Megan’s father
• Janelle — Production team member; provides additional information and the petition appeal
• Tom — Production team member
• Ian — Production team member; mentioned as absent due to illness