Body found in search for missing University of Colorado student

Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A body matching the description of a University of Colorado Boulder student, reported missing last week, was found in "hard-to-reach terrain" over the weekend in Boulder Canyon, according to police.

The body, which has yet to be identified, was located Saturday at the 40-mile mark of Boulder Canyon Drive following a coordinated search for Megan Trussell.

Trussell, 18, was last seen in her dormitory on Feb. 9, wearing a blue or gray jacket, dark red yoga-style pants and white sneakers, according to the university. She was declared missing Thursday by campus police.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued a Missing Indigenous Person Alert on Friday, in a post on X, showing a photo of Trussell and the "distinct blue purse with pink star" that she was carrying when she was last seen.

Boulder Canyon Drive was closed Saturday as investigators recovered the body from "hard-to-reach terrain, requiring a technical evacuation including the need to rappel," according to the sheriff's office.

With the road closure, "investigators were able to recover the decedent, conduct the investigation and provide safety of first responders working in the area due to hazardous road conditions created by the weather."

"The decedent's name is not being released at this time, pending identification confirmation and notification of next of kin," the sheriff's office added in a statement. "The Boulder County Coroner's Office will also determine the cause and manner of death."

A strong storm system brought heavy snow to parts of Colorado over the weekend. A family friend told Denver7 that Trussell "wasn't much of a hiker."

"It is very perplexing how she just seems to have disappeared," Judy Brocato said. "It doesn't make sense. So, we're just trying to piece that together."

"The loss of a member of our community impacts our campus," the University of Colorado said in a statement as administrators announced the discovery of the body matching Trussell.

"Our hearts go out to family, friends and community members of those that we lose. We also have support resources available in the coming days, weeks and months to support community members as they process grief."