Two decades after Hunter S. Thompson’s death was ruled a suicide, Colorado investigators are re-opening the famed journalist’s case.
Investigators initially determined that Thompson, 67, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Colorado home. Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione said Tuesday that there is no new evidence suggesting foul play, but the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is re-examining the death at the request of his widow, Anita Thompson, in order to “provide an independent perspective” on the 2005 investigation.
“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.”
The statement added that it’s unclear how long the investigation might take.
Thompson regularly wrote for Rolling Stone magazine and is credited with popularizing the satirical and hyperbolic “gonzo” style of journalism that puts the writer at the center of the story. His most famous books included “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “Hell’s Angels.” In 1994, he wrote a damning obituary of Richard Nixon for Rolling Stone, in which he referred to the late president as “an American monster.” Thompson’s ashes were blasted out of a cannon at his Colorado home in 2005. His funeral was attended by several prominent actors and politicians, including Johnny Depp, Sean Penn and John Kerry.
Erum Salam is a breaking news reporter and producer for MS NOW. She previously was a breaking news reporter for The Guardian.
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