Hunter S. Thompson’s death confirmed as suicide, Colorado investigators say

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation officials on Friday confirmed the 2005 death of renowned author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson was a result of suicide, almost six months after the state started reviewing the case by request of the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.

State investigators started reviewing the case after Thompson’s widow, Anita Thompson, reached out to Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione with concerns about her late husband’s death at their home, Owl Farm, in Woody Creek on Feb. 20, 2005.

“While we have always believed the original investigation was conducted properly, we recognized the importance of an independent review for the Thompson family,” Buglione said in a statement. “CBI’s conclusions reaffirm the original findings and, we hope, provide reassurance and clarity.”

Hunter S. Thompson was 67 years old when he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home near Aspen. Family members said he had dealt with suicidal ideation and had instructed them on what to do with his body.

CBI’s case review included looking at original the investigation records from Pitkin County and autopsy report from forensic pathologist Dr. Dean Havlik; interviewing Anita Thompson, Hunter S. Thompson’s son Juan Thompson and former daughter-in-law Jennifer Thompson; along with original lead investigators Ron Ryan, county coroner Steven Ayers and former sheriff Joe DiSalvo.

State officials also re-examined the scene of his death, which was necessary because “most original physical evidence and photographs had been disposed of by the PCSO in accordance with non-criminal case retention schedules,” the CBI said Friday.

Investigators also did a trajectory analysis and scene reconstruction, which was consistent with all previous reports.

“The CBI’s review did not uncover any new physical evidence, facts, or circumstances to support a conclusion different from the 2005 investigation,” agency officials said.

Colorado officials also did not find any inconsistent information between the follow-up interviews and scene examination and original investigation.

“Original crime scene photographs, recovered by Anita Thompson, were reviewed and corroborated that Thompson’s body was aligned with the bullet trajectory, supporting the finding that the body was not moved or ‘staged’ after death,” CBI officials said.

“All speculative theories could not be substantiated,” state officials noted later.

Hunter S. Thompson was best known for developing gonzo journalism, an often-hyperbolic style of writing in which the author includes themselves as a main figure in the story.

He worked as a national affairs correspondent for Rolling Stone and penned the semi-autobiographical novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” which was developed into a 1998 film starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro.

But Hunter S. Thompson went on to experience “physical and mental decline” and also idolized author Ernest Hemingway, who died by suicide, CBI officials said.

In a New York Times story published Sunday, family members said he showed signs that he planned to take his own life, like watching his favorite movie with his grandson and giving away gifts before his death.

Anita Thompson thanked CBI officials for their work in a statement released by the agency.

“This allows all of us who loved Hunter to move forward with a clean conscience,” she said.