$300 monthly. It is his decision to solve this problem his way, and I have honored it.. a state arrest warrant was issued for Smika by the County District Court, Boulder County, Colorado, for first degree . Wells was found shot to death in his Boulder apartment on Aug. 3, 1983. I've read to stay away from the Red Light Dist at night due to all of the drunken tourists (of . For his first date with Shauna Redford, the two went to an ROTC dance, the site Daily Camera reported. The DA's office "did not think there was enough evidence to file charges"., prompting criticism of Hunter from the victim's grieving mother. I knew at that point nothing was ever going to come from that grand jury, Neitzel said. And though Robert Wells remains cautious because of the cases handling over the years, he says hes hopeful that the renewed warrant will turn Smika up somewhere. Thayne Smika was arrested in 1983 for the murder of his roommate Sid Wells, but the Boulder County Jail freed him after his mother put up a bond. Smika's abandoned car was discovered in California in 1986. They said it's possible he lived in Yelapa, Mexico for many years after he was released from custody. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. We are about being the guardians of the community and constitutional policing which is protecting the rights of everyone no matter what their race, immigration status or sexual orientation is, said Hayes. Its something she and her family have never gotten over. There was just no sign of life whatsoever, Wells said. The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika or called him by that name, at least since 1986. Report inappropriate content . Bond was set for $5 million in that case, the highest in Boulder history, said Hayes who believes Smika is living under an alias. July 31, 2013 / 9:40 PM DENVER In August 1983, Sid Wells was 22 years old and about to enter his senior year at CU Boulder with dreams of becoming a broadcast journalist. 2. 7 Thayne Smika Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 7 Thayne Smika Premium High Res Photos Browse 7 thayne smika stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Before arriving in Boulder, Smika had lived in North Platte, Nebraska, and Akron, Colorado, throughout his formative years. Smikas family members were informed at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 that authorities had obtained a warrant to arrest Smika on suspicion of first-degree murder, and all of them except his mother denied knowing anything about where Smika might be hiding, according to police. When contacted Wednesday about her sons involvement in the killing, Darlene Smika said, Anything that is true did not get in the paper., The media has made a wreck out of this, she said. Sam and Sid Wells needed a third roommate to help with rent, so they posted an ad which was answered by 24-year-old Thayne Smika, a Colorado State University graduate from Akron in eastern Colorado. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Pic Credit: U.S. Several other rounds of DNA testing at labs across the country, including the FBI Laboratory, turned up scant evidence directly linking Smika to Sids murder, though they did find some circumstantial blood evidence. It's an unsolved mystery involving a beautiful college town, a picture-perfect young couple and even a movie star. This will be a great fit for Estes Park for a lot of reasons.. upperclassman or graduate student. If Thayne was innocent, she says, he would want to clear his name and live a normal life rather than hide out., For June, Sids death is as fresh as if it just happened. district attorney noun Synonyms of district attorney : the prosecuting officer of a judicial district Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web His intent is to reveal what happened within the district attorney 's office during his year there. But when he walked inside, he found Sid dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. A broken hearted Shauna later left the university. Investigators wasted no time paying a visit to Smika in Akron. Momentarily the information will appear next to your cursor. But during a grand jury process to determine if and what charges Smika might face, Neitzel discovered in District Attorney Alexander Hunters case file that the office had reached an agreement with Smika that the grand jury would not be able to come back with a true bill charging Smika with any criminal conduct effectively meaning he wouldnt face any charges no matter what the grand jury found. He was in debt, ducking out on bills and hiding from authorities, and was said to be sloppy, usually unemployed, moody, and easily set off by those who knew him. But he wouldnt know that until later that evening. 11 reviews. The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika since 1986 or even called him by that name. Missing. But Sid was rarely home, according to friends, and was often with Shauna when he wasnt working or at school. Also Read: Debra Jeter Death And Daughter Kiersten Jeter Netflix Documentary Case Dateline. It was January nearly 18 years after a brown-eyed 5-year-old girl named Aleszandra "Alie" Berrelez vanished from the courtyard outside her Englewood apartment, sparking a four-day hunt that ended. For the past three years, Wells had been dating Shauna Redford, daughter of actor Robert Redford, and she had seen him just a few hours before he was killed. [But Im] optimistic that something is going to happen.. Wells had been shot in the back of the head at close range. That, according to police interviews, made for easy pickings for Smika, who was apparently one of only two people aside from Sid who knew where he kept his stash. "Maybe somebody will see something, maybe they'll remember something and they'll call us up and give us some information," Boulder Police Detective Commander Thomas Trujillo said. Police ask anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact them. Boulder police release new sketches of Smika. Police suspected his roommate, Thayne Smika, and arrested him. It didnt make sense to me when I first heard about it, Garnett said. THAYNE ALAN SMIKA . /Outlines 4 0 R IE 11 is not supported. So he started putting together another arrest warrant for Smika, which Boulder County District Court Judge Roxanne Balin approved on Dec. 2, 2010 more than 27 years after Sids murder. . A short time later, his roommate, 24-year-old Thayne Smika, was arrested in connection with Wells' murder, but the Boulder District Attorney declined to file charges and Smika was let go. Detectives found a .20-gauge shotgun and several cartridges in his closet in Akron, and took those into evidence. To view more information on a district, click on a county within that region. LinnyT. 2. Trujillo said if Smika is still alive, he's confident he'll eventually be caught and prosecuted and the case will finally be solved. A year later he joined the Boulder Police Department where he worked for 36 years before returning to the Louisville Police Department in 2014 to serve as their Chief of Police. . We heard Thayne Smika had been arrested, we were elated, and I thought, Oh, you know, got the family settled down and law enforcement did their job. Detectives couldnt be reached Wednesday to comment on whether they obtained any leads from the family members phones. When David Hayes left for work on the morning of December 30 last year, he had no idea that he would not have a home to return to that night. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of freedom while the Wells family has been grieving for three decades. But Sid and a friend confronted him about the missing drugs, andSmika blamed their disappearance on another man. Police said a possible motive was that Smika owed Wells $300 for rent that day. Associated Press, June Menger, the mother of murdered 22-year-old college student Sid Wells, hasn't given up hope police will find his killer, Thayne Smika, now 54, is being sought in 1983 murder of 22-year-old Sid Wells, Wells was found dead from 20-gauge shotgun blast to the back of the head in his home, Well had been dating Robert Redford's daughter, Shauna, for three years, Police believe Smika, Well's ex-roommate, has been living under alias, 'Did the HPV vaccine kill my daughter': Mother demands answers after healthy and active daughter, 12, collapses and dies after getting vaccine, Murder charges could be brought against gunman who tried to assassinate Reagan after coroner rules death this week of press secretary paralyzed in attack is homicide, Pupils take to TikTok as they stage protest at Shenfield High School, Putin orders intelligence service to find 'scum' who oppose him, King Charles hosts von der Leyen at Windsor Castle, Putin spy plane before being 'destroyed by pro-Ukraine Belarus group', Gabor Mat: No Jewish state without oppressing local population, Amplified jet stream could lead to 'disruptive snow in places', Shocking video shows machete fight playing out in broad daylight, Cops smashes window and rescue two kids from a parked car, Moment pastor FOILS armed robbery after praying for gunmen, TikTok video shows Unity Academy Blackpool pupils protesting, Dashcam captures moment two cars collide on a roundabout, Dramatic moment police cars chase driver moments before smash. <> The evidence pointed to Thayne," June said. % The district attorney's office in Boulder County . Under Garnett, an arrest warrant was issued for Thayne Smika, a roommate of Wells' and a longtime suspect in the case. MDAA is an independent state agency whose mission is to support the eleven elected Massachusetts District Attorneys and their staff, including approximately 785 prosecutors and 260 victim-witness advocates. . Police focused their attention on Thayne Smika and, when forensic evidence confirmed their suspicions, they arrested him. endobj Darlene Smika the mother of the missing suspect, who vanished in 1986 refused to speak with detectives, police reported. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much A Warner Bros. A photo that accompanied a 1983 Associated Press article about Wells funeral showed the weeping young woman being comforted by her father on their way to the service. It carries first-degree murder charges, a $5 million bond and the conditions that Smika have no contact with the Wells family should he ever be caught. How can a district attorney actually handle his grand jury in such a manner? Things were going as planned for Smika, according to the documents, late on July 31. Judicial Circuit County(ies) Prosecuting Attorney 1st Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, St. Francis, Woodruff: Todd Murray Darryl Smika said he thinks authorities are wasting their time and money looking for his son. When she came back around 12:15 p.m., her boyfriend was dead. Thayne Smika is wanted for the 1983 slaying of his roommate, who was dating Robert Redford's daughter at the time. The suspect in this case is a man named Thayne Smika, a roommate of Wells' in 1983. I dont know why anybody would enter into an agreement like that. His vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA in 1986. Boulder police are asking for help finding Smika, suspected of killing Sid Wells, a 22-year-old. Another man who lived next door to the Wells brothers told investigators that hed heard a loud bang, similar to a gunshot, at the time the coroner determined Sid had died. He had a warrant for his arrest for the charge of Forgery and he was also the suspect in a 1983 Boulder, CO Homicide. Im 100 percent. Smika was arrested Oct. 6, 1983 about two months after the slaying but then-District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to charge him, saying there wasnt enough evidence. Example video title will go here for this video. of 1 For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings. He loved the way her hair fell over her eyes. Watch Liz Gelardi and James Dougherty's video story in the player below or by clicking here. 15 0 obj You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. After Boulder police gathered additional evidence in the case in December 2012, a judge issued an arrest warrant for Smika. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. Robert was enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard at the time of his brothers death, but has long maintained an active role in the investigation. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. She grieved in ways that I cant even imagine, Menger said. It's like a partially opened door with a very dark room behind it, he said. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . Another connection with Burkhalter came in 1977. To date, the trail has been cold, but Boulder police said they have not given up. Reply. One of the most high-profile murders in Colorado's history remains unsolved after nearly 34 years, but police and prosecutors know who their suspect is and have an active warrant for his arrest. People had to be evacuated from the fires path. He immediately called police, his shock apparent in the 911 recording. District Attorney Susan L. Opper. In December 2010, the Boulder County district attorney signed off on an arrest warrant accusing Thayne Smika of first degree murder, but he has yet to be located. Also Read: Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? An additional 149 homes and 30 other buildings were also damaged. Smika, who was also once an AMW web-exclusive, will be the first ever fugitive from 'The Hunt' to get an In Pursuit profile as well. 6: 6 "Trafficking in . Then they learned that prosecutors had declined to charge Smika with the killing, saying there wasnt enough evidence. Smika says he told Sid about the trip the night before. - DNA Not from a Single Intruder: In 2016 Boulder's Daily Camera and Denver's 9News obtained the crime scene DNA report and their undisputed analysis found that in two of the three DNA specimens, the "a 3rd person's . This goes back a long way to when I was 9 or 10 years old, and I am still in touch with Jim today, 56 years later.. We are continually working to identify anyone who may be in contact with Thayne Smika, police spokeswoman Kim Kobel said. It kind of rips you to the core, Robert said. Smikas father, Darryl Smika, told the Camera on Wednesday that the last time he had contact with his son was a month before he disappeared, and he doesnt have information on his sons whereabouts. He said it had turned into his nightmare too, she said. The guy who you believe has done it has never been brought to justice, Robert said. Directory of District Attorney Offices. Im thinking, no, thats not real; thats not right. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Smika was eventually let out of custody, and stayed around the area for a couple years. 2 0 obj CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Im still hopeful. That summer, Sid was living with one of his brothers, Sam, and Smika in the Spanish Towers condos on 29th Street just east of campus. Thayne Smika, who is believed to be living under an assumed identity, would be 54 now. Shauna went back to her place, which was also in Spanish Towers, and Sid, Smika and the other man stayed back and did more cocaine into the early morning hours. Boulder Deputy Police Chief Dave Hayes, one of the first detectives to investigate the case, said Smika may have become assimilated into a community and he hopes new coverage of the case will lead a neighbor or a relative to step forward. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . And though Robert and his remaining family members say they still continue to feel Sids loss and it is sometimes a challenge to find hope, he says hes optimistic that Smika will be found at brought to justice. They also found a box of shells with three missing. New DA furthers investigation, obtains new arrest warrant. Police and the family believe he changed his name and disappeared. The whole thing was extremely frustrating.. Now, a retired detective who worked the case back in the early 80s is speaking up for the first time in years in hopes of bringing closure to a Colorado family and an end to a complex murder mystery that has puzzled Boulder for decades. BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Colorado investigators are asking for help finding a man suspected of killing Sid Wells, a 22-year-old college student who was dating actor-director Robert Redford' Level Contributor . He started reviewing the case, its evidence and how it had progressed through the new analyses. An advocate of mental health co-responders working alongside police officers, Hayes said, We want to be the people that people in the community call when they have a problem., Dave is just a natural, said Hayes long-time mentor, Burkhalter. Thayne Smika was accused of killing his roommate Sid Wells in August 1983, and the case hasn't been solved yet. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In 2011, the Boulder County District Attorneys office approved an arrest warrant for Smika on first-degree murder but his whereabouts are unknown. <> Police in 2011 issued a first-degree-murder arrest warrant for Thayne Smika, 54, . / CBS Colorado. As a Catholic kid from a large family in South Denver, Hayes fell in love with Estes Park during summers at Camp St. Malo. Stories worth watching 16 videos. In Sids obituary, Shauna was listed as survivor, girlfriend and best friend. Oct. 6, 1983: Police arrest Thayne Smika, who was living with Wells at the time of the crime, at his family home in Akron. UNDATED: Thayne Smika is seen in a photo provided by the Boulder, Colo., Police Department. Its something I would like to see before Im gone, Neitzel said. I have no doubt in my mind that that shotgun was responsible for Sids death, Neitzel said. The trail has been icy, but Boulder police said they haven't given up. John Walsh is looking for a man suspected of killing his roommate and has been on the run since 1986. After police ruled his brother out as a suspect, they began to focus on Smika. "It's past time for justice for Sid Wells and his family," Deputy Chief Dave Hayes said. Shauna, the daughter of Robert Redford and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, whom he divorced in 1985, dated Sid Wells for three years, and in his obituary she was listed among his survivors. He has not been seen since. For a list of Offices and access to their websites, either select "Directory of District Attorney Offices" or select a location on the map. News. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Feb 24, 2023, 3:22 PM. endstream Smikas friends and acquaintances thought Smika to be messy, unkempt and temperamental, according to the court documents. What happened over the next several hours remains unclear, but by noon, Sid was dead. Shauna showed up a few minutes later. Robert Redford stopped production of his film The Natural so he and his family could attend Sids funeral. First published on July 31, 2013 / 9:40 PM. Last seen alive: October 01, 1986. The story made headlines across Boulder County when Smika was tabbed as a suspect, though a friend was quoted in the paper as saying hed said the other man whom Smika had allegedly stolen the drugs and money from was to blame. Neitzel, who has seldom spoken publicly about the case after his 1990 retirement, says he believes Smika is Sids killer, saying theres not a doubt in his mind that is the case, and that he hopes to see Smika arrested. The FBI is now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Smika's arrest and conviction. . As the chief of police in Louisville, Hayes focused on the complexities of the day and the tasks at hand with public safety being his number one priority. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. Sid, it turns out, had a decent amount of the drug reportedly spending around $2,000 for an ounce at one point, though it wasnt clear how he got the money. And his car melted in the driveway. Associated Press Dave Hayes was a rookie detective in the Boulder Police Department when Sid Wells was killed. Smika told investigators he slept for a couple of hours that morning before he left to Akron at either 10 or 11 a.m. to visit his mother and sister, do laundry and get his hair cut and permed. 'I don't know that I'll live long enough to see a resolution in this case, but I would hope that I can, and I've never given up hope,' she told CNN. Sid, Shauna and a friend eventually ended up back at Sid and Smikas apartment, and they drank and used cocaine, according to the documents. Walking anywhere including the Red Light District is fine. Allegedly Arrested For Murder, Debra Jeter Death And Daughter Kiersten Jeter Netflix Documentary Case Dateline, Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? Discovery Company. Smika charged, but DA's deal throws case into disarray. Fred Neitzel, now retired, was one of the Boulder Police Department detectives on the case at the time, and says that a host of evidence played into the decision to arrest Smika, but his note saying he was leaving town may have been the biggest factor. Last updated: July 17, 2020 Denver, CO A. Greg Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, California. The Moving can be an exciting experience. Following an investigation, authorities discovered Sid had been killed by a single shot fired at a slight downward angle from a.20-gauge shotgun. Boulder police believe he may have a new identity and he may be working as a bookkeeper or accountant. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at http://www.crimeshurt.com. But he was perhaps best-known around town in 1983 for being the guy who was dating Robert Redfords daughter, Shauna, who was also a student at CU at the time. A grand jury was derailed by Hunter two years later, according to the Camera. The FBI said Smika's abandoned car was found in California in 1986, but other than that, there's been no sign of him since he was released from custody. /StructTreeRoot 5 0 R Smika was arrested for the homicide in 1983, however the DA at the time declined prosecution and Smika disappeared in 1986. Investigators are still looking for Thayne Smika and are asking anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact . The day before a long-sought arrest warrant in the high-profile 1983 slaying of Sid Wells was unsealed, Boulder police simultaneously called six relatives of prime suspect Thayne Smika to ask whether they had any information on the 52-year-olds whereabouts, according to newly released court records. Thayne Smika, 55 Suspect in the killing of his roommate On the run since 1986 Could be in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico On August 1, 1983, Sam Wells returned from a camping trip to find his brother. Wells was dating Shauna Jean Redford, the daughter of actor Robert Redford, and this brought attention to the case on a global scale. Thanyne Smika (CBS/KCNC) CBS/KCNC Smika was arrested in the killing two months later but wasn't charged. Thayne.. The first grand jury did not issue an indictment for murder believed to be a result of misconduct by the district attorney. Sid was killed by a single gunshot wound to the back of the head from a .20-gauge shotgun shell shot at a near-horizontal, but slightly downward trajectory, the coroners office found, deeming Sids death a homicide. There was blood spattered on a magazine on the coffee table close to a note Sam himself had left saying he was going camping, as well as another note from Smika: Sid/Sam Ive gone home to visit my folks for a couple of days and Ill be back Tuesday or Wednesday. The Boulder Police Department is asking for tips, and has released a time progression of what Smika might look like 30 years after the murder. Were following up on all leads as to what his location may be, and this includes checking cell phone records of people who may be in touch with him.. He also had some small-time involvement in the use and sale of cocaine, according to police documents. Police released his 1983 mugshot and an age-progressed image of what he might look like today. (Information retrieved from NamUs.g. Photo from the Boulder Daily Camera Spring 2011 Campus News 15:04 GMT 09 Aug 2014. First Name: Thayne Alan. Sid Wells, who was 22 at the time, was found shot to death in his condo in August of 1983. But that day fire roared through unincorporated Boulder County, and the communities of Superior and Louisville, Colo., destroying more than 1,000 homes and seven commercial structures. Im angry that the system let me down. 5:59 PM EDT, Fri July 10, 2015. One of the most high-profile murders in Colorados history remains unsolved after nearly 34 years, but police and prosecutors know who their suspect is and have an active warrant for his arrest. I hope its solved, he said. Prefer C.U. Boom, were going to get the rest of the story now and really find out what happened to Sid, his brother Rob Wells said. endobj Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, Calif. Wells'. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. in 2011 the Boulder County District Attorney's Office reviewed the case and approved an arrest affidavit for Smika, but they still haven't been able to find him. The trail has been frozen, but Boulder police said they haven't given up. All Rights Reserved. There was blood spatter underneath the note, which would mean the note was written after the death, Neitzel said. He is passionate about what he calls constitutional policing. Most of what we do is not police work, it is community safety. She said Redford initially decided not to attend the funeral, worried it would become a media circus. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s) may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers. And in addition to paying the rent (he) was also going to give Sid some additional money and some cocaine. Wells friend told police that Wells had been selling small amounts of cocaine in recent months, according to Hayes. Following his release from detention, they claimed it's conceivable Thayne spent a significant amount of time living in Yelapa, Mexico. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, Calif. Robert Redford said in 1997 that Wells' murder still haunted him. The rent was due that day. Smika was also profiled in the January 23, 2019 episode of the Investigation Discovery series In Pursuit with John Walsh. When asked by the Camera on Wednesday whether she knows where her son is, she said, Would I tell you?. Wells' mother June Menger says Redford is like a daughter-in-law to her, even though she never saw her son married. Smika was arrested on Oct. 6, 1983, two months after the slaying, but then-district attorney Alex Hunter (A&S'59, Law'63) declined to charge him, saying there wasn't enough evidence. Smika moved to Denver then eventually left for California. Sids older brother, Sam, found his body. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, California. An autopsy showed Wells was shot execution-style at point-blank range in the back of the head with a 20-gauge shotgun. Police arrested Wells' roommate Thayne Smika but the Boulder County District Attorney at the time did not think there was sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial. , live events, and exclusive reporting written after the death, Neitzel said Fri July 10,.! Browser and try again Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS ( 8477 ) or 1-800-444-3776 who was 22 at time. 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