The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced Tuesday it will review the investigation into the 2005 death of renowned journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson at his Woody Creek home, 20 years after local authorities ruled the case a suicide.
State investigators are reviewing the case “to provide an independent perspective” on the investigation after hearing from Pitkin County sheriff’s officials who were contacted by Thompson’s widow, Anita.
There is no new evidence that suggests foul play in Thompson’s death, Sheriff Michael Buglione said in a news release Tuesday.
“We understand the profound impact Hunter S. Thompson had on this community and beyond,” Buglione said in a statement. “By bringing in an outside agency for a fresh look, we hope to provide a definitive and transparent review that may offer peace of mind to his family and the public.”
Hunter S. Thompson died Feb. 20, 2005, at age 67 after he shot himself in the head at his home near Aspen.
State investigators on Tuesday described his suicide as “alleged” and said there is no timeline for how long the review will take or deadline for it to be finished.
In interviews after his death, Anita Thompson spoke plainly about her late husband’s suicidal ideation and said he had told his family what he wanted done with his body, unpublished works and assets.
She had gone to the gym after the couple had a fight but was on the phone with him when he killed himself, Anita Thompson told the Aspen Daily News in the days after his death.
His son, Juan Thompson, along with his daughter-in-law and 6-month-old grandson were at the compound, Owl Farm, when he died.
Hunter S. Thompson was best known for his novels, including “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “Hell’s Angels” and for developing gonzo journalism, a first-person writing style in which authors may center themselves in the story, often using satire or hyperbole.
“Fear and Loathing,” a semi-autobiographical account of Thompson’s drug-fueled adventures in Las Vegas, was developed into a 1998 film starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro that went on to become a cult classic.
Anita Thompson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.
Editor’s note: If you or someone you know are considering suicide, call or text 988 to get free, 24/7 support from the Colorado Mental Health Line.
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