By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Over two decades after Hunter S. Thompson’s death was ruled a suicide, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is set to review the case at the request of his widow, Anita Thompson. The author, known for his “gonzo” journalism and works like “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” was found dead at his Woody Creek, Colorado home on February 20, 2005, by his son. While no new evidence has surfaced, the review, involving an independent perspective, aims to provide a transparent analysis and offer closure to Thompson’s family and the public. The investigation will examine details surrounding the circumstances of Thompson’s death, including the alleged suicide note published in Rolling Stone.
Read the original article here
Hunter S. Thompson’s death to be reviewed more than 20 years later. It’s a strange thought, isn’t it? Over two decades since the good doctor, the Gonzo journalist himself, decided to check out. Now, his death is being revisited. The initial reports all those years ago pointed to suicide, a rather on-brand exit for a man who lived life on the absolute edge. It’s difficult to imagine it could have been anything else. He seemed to have openly contemplated the idea, even embraced it, as a way to retain control.
The article itself mentions that the investigation found no evidence to suggest anything other than suicide. The note, the setting, his state of mind – it all fits the profile. The lack of anything suspicious, like explosives or deer blood, only strengthens the initial conclusion. You have to wonder what they are expecting to uncover. The only thing that could destroy Hunter S. Thompson was Hunter S. Thompson, the man himself.
Honestly, reading about him in high school, he seemed like a force of nature – sex, drugs, rock and roll. So, any doubt about the circumstances surrounding his death feels misplaced. To think that it might not have been a suicide seems almost impossible. I feel for his widow, Anita Thompson, wanting closure. Losing someone in that manner must be devastating, and maybe reviewing the case can offer some peace of mind.
That being said, it’s hard to see how this review is going to turn up anything different. The decision to end his life, the way he did it, the note he left – it all screamed Hunter S. Thompson. It’s his legacy to be on his own terms. This entire thing just seems like the Sheriff’s office has too much free time.
This entire situation seems like a waste of resources. The article suggests that Thompson was clear about his desire to end his life on his own terms. Let’s be real, he was ahead of his time. I love Hunter, but he certainly trashed his body and mental health with excessive drug/alcohol use. What are they expecting to find? Did he get shot by his neighbor? The alternative theory? He was in a wheelchair.
The review is not being conducted due to new evidence suggesting foul play, but rather, at the request of his widow to address lingering questions for his family and the public. And honestly, I am still surprised that it’s already been twenty years. It feels like only yesterday, maybe ten, that Conan O’Brien did a skit with him and Thompson casually shooting the shit out of Teddy bears. A good one.
There are certain people who will never be replaced, and Hunter S. Thompson is one of those. It’s a true shame he didn’t get to comment on what has been happening the past ten years. The interview with Johnny Knoxville, describing Thompson’s depression just before he died, only reinforces the idea. It’s the perfect Hunter S. Thompson story.
The article provides a link to a video of Thompson having a casual shootout with his neighbor – an almost ordinary occurrence for him. A true legend of Americana. The question, the widow, must have, is understandable in its own way.
It would be a stain on his legacy if it came to be considered an accident or something similar. This entire situation seems like a waste of resources, a decision he made long before, and went out in a very Hunter way, leaving a very Hunter note. I’m glad he didn’t have to live through the last 10 years. The only thing that could possibly be considered a bit suspicious is that his son was in the house at the time.
There’s not even a set deadline for this review, which could take forever. Reopening old wounds for no reason doesn’t seem fair. The original investigation concluded that Thompson’s death was a suicide, and the review process has no set deadline for completion. It all feels like a publicity stunt. They should just release the Thompson files.
So how about them Epstein Files release date? “We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.” Maybe it’s just to address lingering questions. Perhaps for the insurance money. I remember reading somewhere that the Pitkin County Sheriff and old friend of his said that his suicide was the perfect shot, precise and painless.
I met people who lived up on the hill near him, and despite his reputation, he was seen as the sweetest and kindest person. Hunter was very open about his life, but it just doesn’t sound like something he would say or do. How would this even be possible?