NEED TO KNOW
- Journalist Hunter S. Thompson died by suicide in 2005 at his home in Aspen, Colo.
- His widow, Anita Thompson, requested that the Colorado Bureau of Investigations review the initial investigation into her late husband’s death on account of “things she has been hearing from friends and possible relatives”
- Thompson was known for popularizing gonzo journalism and his book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
When Hunter S. Thompson died at his Aspen, Colo. home in 2005, authorities ruled that the journalist died by suicide. Now, 20 years later, his cause of death is being reexamined.
The writer’s widow, Anita Thompson, requested a review of the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office’s initial investigation. The PCSO has now referred the case to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation at Anita’s request, NBC News reports.
Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione said in a Sept. 30 press release that there is no new evidence of foul play in Thompson’s death at this time.
“We understand the profound impact Hunter S. Thompson had on this community and beyond,” Buglione said. “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.”
Buglione told The Colorado Sun that Anita’s renewed interest in the investigation was prompted by “things she has been hearing from friends and possible relatives.”
However, Buglione told the outlet, “The sheriff’s office has been confident over the last 20-plus years that the original investigation was exactly what happened.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the PCSO for comment.
Thompson was best known for his work with Rolling Stone and his books Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, published in 1971, and Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga, published in 1967. A pioneer of the New Journalism movement, Thompson, who was 67 when he died, was widely credited for popularizing the method of “gonzo” journalism.
Gonzo journalism refers to a style of reporting in which the reporter directly inserts themselves into the story on which they are reporting, often relaying a first-person account of events.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was later adapted into a film in 1998, which starred Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro.
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In the days following Thompson’s death, Anita told The Associated Press that her husband had spoken of ending his life before his death. He allegedly said he was at the “peak” of his life and, “if he quit now, he would feel he was a champion,” she told the outlet.
Anita said she argued against suicide during those discussions.
“I threatened him, ‘I’m out of here,’ I wouldn’t mourn, I would hate him,” she said. “That’s my biggest regret. I’m so sorry, Hunter. Yeah, that’s my biggest regret.”
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