Hunter S. Thompson’s Death, Following New Review, Is Ruled Suicide — Again

Two decades after the passing of literary icon Hunter S. Thompson, Colorado authorities have once again ruled his death a suicide. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation released findings on Friday confirming the results of the original investigation into the author’s 2005 death, following a review requested by his widow.Thompson, 67, died at his “Owl Farm” home in Aspen in February 2005 from a gunshot wound to the head. While the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office originally ruled the death a suicide — a conclusion initially accepted by his widow, Anita Thompson — she requested a review of the case last year.The request stemmed from rumors circulating among relatives suggesting the scene had been staged to “look like a suicide,” implying a potential cover-up, according to reports. However, the state bureau found no merit to the claims.“The CBI’s review did not uncover any new physical evidence, facts, or circumstances to support a conclusion different from the 2005 investigation,” the agency said in a statement.The review included an examination of original crime scene photographs recovered by Ms. Thompson. The CBI said the images corroborated that “Thompson’s body was aligned with the bullet trajectory, supporting the finding that the body was not moved or ‘staged’ after death.” The agency also noted that the author had been suffering from chronic pain and depression, and had long idolized Ernest Hemingway, who died by suicide in 1961.For Ms. Thompson, the confirmation brings a sense of finality. “I’m thankful for the kind and thorough work done by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in their review of this case, and not a single attempt to overstep the ethical boundaries of a technical review, especially under such difficult circumstances,” she said in a statement. “This allows all of us who loved Hunter to move forward with a clean conscience.”Thompson was more than a writer; he was a cultural force. As a founder of a new form of journalism, he inserted himself into the heart of his stories, producing seminal works like “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “Hell’s Angels.”His byline appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, and even ESPN.com, cementing his status as a literary outlaw who lived and wrote with a ferocious, drug-fueled intensity. With his serialized coverage of the 1972 presidential campaign, Thompson set himself apart as a unique voice in the world of politics, and was spurred into activism throughout the rest of his life.Thompson, who in later years suffered chronic medical problems, including a hip replacement, left a suicide note, which was as much for himself as others. A message written at the top in black marker in the February 2005 note said, “Football Season Is Over,” referring to the end of the NFL season.“No More Games. No More bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun — for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax — This won’t hurt,” the note said.Following his death, Ms. Thompson told the Associated Press that her husband had spoken of suicide in the months prior, noting that he felt he was at the “peak” of his life and that “if he quit now, he would feel he was a champion.”

Hunter S. Thompson’s Death, Following New Review, Is Ruled Suicide — Again

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