Thompson Spoke of Suicide, Family Says



ASPEN, Colo. - Journalist Hunter S. Thompson discussed committing suicide at least 10 years before he took his life, his family said.

Thompson's son and daughter-in-law, Juan Thompson and Jennifer Winkel Thompson, said that the 67-year-old "gonzo journalist" had outlived his own expectations.

"I've known for many, many years that this is how Hunter would go," Juan Thompson told the Rocky Mountain News in Thursday's editions. "It was just a question of when. This was a big surprise and I didn't expect it to be now, but the means was exactly as we expected."

Thompson shot himself in his Aspen-area home Sunday. His son, daughter-in-law and 6-year-old grandson were visiting from Denver and in the house. His wife of two years, Anita, was at a health club.

When Thompson fired his .45-caliber handgun, Juan Thompson thought a book had fallen.

"When I found him, he was in his chair, his head was slumped forward," Juan Thompson said. "It looked like he had fallen asleep."

Juan Thompson said his father had suffered weeks of pain from a host of physical problems that included a broken leg and a hip replacement.

"I think maybe he wanted to go out before it stopped being fun," Juan Thompson said.

Hunter Thompson was cremated Tuesday in Glenwood Springs. A private memorial service will be held March 5 in Aspen, with a public commemoration planned for spring or summer.

Thompson's family is looking into firing his ashes from a cannon, as he had wanted. Juan Thompson said the idea was fitting.