CBI review upholds finding that Hunter S. Thompson died by suicide

A review of the 2005 shooting death of journalist Hunter S. Thompson has confirmed authorities’ original finding that his death was a suicide, the Colorado bureau of investigation (CBI) said on Friday.

The review was announced in September after Thompson’s wife, Anita Thompson, contacted authorities with "new concerns and potential information regarding the investigation," the agency said in a news release. In a statement included in the announcement she thanked the bureau for its "kind and thorough work" and said: "This allows all of us who loved Hunter to move forward with a clean conscience."

Thompson, who popularised a first-person form of gonzo journalism in articles and books such as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, died at his Aspen-area home in February 2005. He was 67. His remains were cremated and fired from a cannon at his request during a private ceremony in Colorado; among the attendees was the actor Johnny Depp, who played the lead role in the 1998 film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Michael Buglione, the sheriff for the Aspen area, said he believed the original investigation was conducted properly but that investigators recognised the importance of an independent review. "CBI’s conclusions reaffirm the original findings and, we hope, provide reassurance and clarity," he said.

Key Topics

Culture, Hunter S. Thompson, Cbi, Anita Thompson, Gonzo Journalism, Johnny Depp