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ASPEN, Colo. (AP) Hunter S. Thompson's body was found in a chair in the kitchen in front of his typewriter with the word "counselor" typed in the centre of the page, according to sheriff's reports.

The word was typed on stationery from the Fourth Amendment Foundation, which was started to defend victims of unwarranted search and seizure, according to reports released Tuesday.

It was not immediately known what, if any, significance the word had to the founder of "gonzo" journalism or to his family.

Juan Thompson found his father dead on Feb. 20 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. After reporting the death, Juan Thompson walked outside the Woody Creek home and fired three shotgun blasts into the air.

"Juan told me he had shot a shotgun into the air to mark the passing of his father," Pitkin County Deputy Sheriff John Armstrong said in his report.

Juan Thompson was allowed to go into the kitchen alone to drape a golden orange scarf over his father's shoulders, according to Armstrong. Jennifer Winkel Thompson, Juan Thompson's wife, said the family had purchased the silk scarf in Florence, Italy, and gave it to Hunter Thompson the night before.

The couple and their six-year-old son were in the house when Thompson, 67, took a handgun, put it to his mouth and fired.

A soft-sided gun case was found at Thompson's feet along with a spent shell casing, according to reports.

The family has cancelled plans for a public gathering in favour of a private service. A public event will be held at a later date. Plans also are in the works to blast Thompson's ashes from a cannon, which was one of the author's wishes.