❓WHAT HAPPENED: Colorado authorities are reviewing the 2005 death of journalist Hunter S. Thompson, which was initially ruled a suicide.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione, and Thompson’s widow, Anita Thompson.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The 2025 review concerns Thompson’s death in February 2005 near Aspen, Colorado.
💬KEY QUOTE: “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.” – Sheriff Michael Buglione
🎯IMPACT: The review aims to address lingering questions and provide closure for Thompson’s family and the public.
The 2005 death of famed gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson is being reviewed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the request of his widow, Anita Thompson. Investigators originally ruled Thompson’s death, which occurred just outside Aspen in February 2005, a suicide. While Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione stated there is no new evidence suggesting foul play, lingering questions remain regarding the writer’s death at the age of 67.
“We understand the profound impact Hunter S. Thompson had on this community and beyond,” Buglione said in a statement, adding: “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 CBI did not provide a timeline for the review, which will focus on three incident reports prepared by Pitkin County investigators after Thompson’s death. All three reports concluded Thompson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a determination confirmed by an autopsy conducted at Aspen Valley Hospital. However, the coroner did not order a toxicology report, despite Thompson’s well-documented drug abuse and unconventional lifestyle.
Thompson’s unique memorial service saw his cremated remains shot out of a cannon on his Woody Creek property, accompanied by fireworks.
Image by Helen Davis / Denver Post / John Venzel.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.