The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has finalized its independent state-level review into the February 2025 death of Megan Trussell, a University of Colorado Boulder student, concluding that the original investigation by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office and partner agencies was reasonable, substantial, and supported by the available evidence.

The review was requested by Trussell's family and conducted under the authority of Senate Bill 22-150, Colorado's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives legislation. Initiated in January 2026, the seven-month review examined the complete investigative record, including digital evidence, cellular analysis, campus access records, body-worn camera footage, search documentation, and forensic files.

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A central element of the review took place July 21, 2026, when the case was presented to the CBI's Cold Case Review Team, a multi-disciplinary panel of approximately 40 professionals including prosecutors, investigators, forensic pathologists and scientists, toxicologists, analysts, and victim advocates. Prior to the session, a victim advocate read a letter on behalf of the Trussell family. Independent medical specialists evaluated all toxicological and autopsy data without prior involvement in the initial investigation.

Key findings of the review include:

The CBI identified no evidence supporting homicide or physical assault, nor did it find an uncompleted investigative step that would alter the conclusion that Trussell's death was a suicide.

Medical experts strongly supported the coroner's findings, determining that toxicological results — elevated amphetamine levels — and physical signs of severe hypothermic exposure were consistent with the original cause of death.

Search operations were extensive and appropriately expanded despite severe terrain and adverse weather conditions, including snowfall and cold, that hampered visibility, dog teams, and drone capabilities in Boulder Canyon.

The review is the first death-investigation review completed by the CBI under C.R.S. § 24-33.5-2602(2)(c)(II), enacted through Senate Bill 22-150. The CBI emphasized that statutory eligibility for review does not imply initial law enforcement misconduct, but rather serves as a tool for independent accountability and trauma-informed review.

"No administrative review can undo the profound loss experienced by the Trussell family or answer every remaining question. However, this statutory process ensures that every piece of evidence was examined with the utmost seriousness, rigor, and respect. We offer these findings with deep compassion for Megan's grieving loved ones and a commitment to continuous improvement in law enforcement practices." — Armando Saldate III, Director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation

More information is available at www.cbi.colorado.gov.