Hunter S. Thompson makes his point with cigarette in hand while answering questions from a full house on Sept. 25, 1984, at Vanderbilt Unviersity's Langford Auditorium.

After more than 20 years, a new review of the death of famed journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson is underway.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is conducting a case review into Thompson's 2005 death, which was ruled a suicide, in order to provide an "independent perspective" on the original investigation, the bureau announced on Sept. 30.

The review comes at the suggestion of the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office in Colorado following a request from the late author's widow, Anita Thompson, according to a news release.

Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione said there is no new evidence to suggest foul play but that his office hopes to answer any lingering questions about the case.

"We understand the profound impact Hunter S. Thompson had on this community and beyond," Buglione said. "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."

Thompson, the journalist and author behind the novel "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," died on Feb. 20, 2005, at age 67. At the time, the Pitkin County coroner ruled his cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Colorado home, according to The Aspen Times. The coroner said a toxicology report would not be ordered because "it was incidental to the cause of death," adding, "It doesn’t matter if there were drugs in his system; it had nothing to do with the manner of his death."

Thompson's widow, Anita, told the Aspen Daily News she was on the phone with her husband when he "set the receiver down" and she heard "the clicking of the gun," per The Associated Press. She also said that he had discussed suicide in the months before his death, which caused difficulty in their marriage. "He wanted to leave on top of his game," she said, according to the AP. "I wish I could have been more supportive of his decision. It was a problem for us."

Thompson was cremated, and his remains were shot out of a cannon as part of a ceremony funded by Johnny Depp, who starred in the film adaptation of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Depp told The Associated Press that Thompson was "one of my best friends," and he was "trying to make sure his last wish comes true."

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said there is no firm timeline for when the review into Thompson's death will be completed.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hunter S. Thompson's 2005 death sparks new review

Reporting by Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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