Sol Pais, the 18-year-old whose flight in April to Denver from Miami led authorities on a massive manhunt across the Front Range into the mountains, died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to an autopsy released Wednesday.
The autopsy, conducted by the Clear Creek County Coroner’s Office, showed that Pais did not have drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of her death. The coroner determined in May that she died by suicide.
Pais was found on April 17 near the trail head of Echo Lake Lodge on Mount Evans with a shotgun between her legs, personal effects and a duffel bag, the coroner’s report said.
The Florida teen bought a one-way ticket to Colorado in April, triggering hundreds of schools to close as federal, state and local law enforcement scoured the state for two days attempting to locate her. The incident occurred just before the 20th anniversary of the Columbine shootings.
The FBI said Pais had an infatuation with the Columbine massacre. Pais had made comments to family friends about Columbine although no specific threats were made against people or schools. She bought a shotgun shortly after arriving in Colorado.
The manhunt led schools across the state to close as a precaution.
Authorities have said Pais likely killed herself the day she arrived in Colorado.
