Trujillo said if Smika is still alive, he's confident he'll eventually be caught and prosecuted and the case will finally be solved. stream Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. His longtime girlfriend, Shauna, was the daughter of actor Robert Redford, which was a major reason the story attracted so much attention when Wells was murdered. 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. endobj Police said a possible motive was that Smika owed Wells $300 for rent that day. Were revictimized on a daily basis because our loved one is not there to share that moment with us. He had a warrant for his arrest for the charge of Forgery and he was also the suspect in a 1983 Boulder, CO Homicide. A. Greg The rent was due that day. 100 posts. 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. 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 trail has been frozen, but Boulder police said they haven't given up. Im still hopeful. This past February, when Estes Parks Police Chief Wes Kufeld announced that he would be stepping down in May after 34 years with department, 14 as chief, David Hayes threw his hat in the ring for the job. "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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Im 100 percent. Johnson won the primary and then was elected in November in an uncontested race. Recent information indicates he may be living near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. By According to Detective Hayes, This is not a whodunit, but rather a 'where is he?'. Lakewood, Ohio. A Boulder Daily Camera piece on this development notes that Smika was suspect number one in the execution-style slaying from the jump. This will be a great fit for Estes Park for a lot of reasons.. /Outlines 4 0 R 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. endstream It's an unsolved mystery involving a beautiful college town, a picture-perfect young couple and even a movie star. But in 2009, Stan Garnett took over as district attorney, with a newfound interest in the case. But I hope its solved with the criminal who did it, not with my son being convicted of something he didnt do.. Sid and his brother needed a roommate and settled on Smika, but they werent close friends. 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. Or, keep up-to-date on the latest news and weather with the Denver7 apps for iPhone/iPads, Android and Kindle. I believe the motive was the money and the cocaine, and that Thayne got found out from Sid that he was not being up and up, Neitzel added. /StructTreeRoot 5 0 R Boulder police release new sketches of Smika. 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. (Information retrieved from NamUs.g. 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.. Judicial Circuit County(ies) Prosecuting Attorney 1st Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, St. Francis, Woodruff: Todd Murray The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. Following an investigation, authorities discovered Sid had been killed by a single shot fired at a slight downward angle from a.20-gauge shotgun. 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. but it can also be stressful. 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. An autopsy showed Wells was shot execution-style at point-blank range in the back of the head with a 20-gauge shotgun. 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. District Attorneys Council Home Page / District Attorneys To view each county's name, district number, and district attorney, place your mouse pointer over each county and hold it still. 2023 Cable News Network. 15:04 GMT 09 Aug 2014. Smika stayed up until around 6:30 a.m. before he was seen by a neighbor moving a trash can outside and back inside, locking the apartment door and falling asleep. stream Smikas last contact with authorities was in October 1986, and his vehicle was last located in Beverly Hills, Calif., without any paperwork and with stolen license plates, according to the affidavit. 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. . The police said that new evidence and advances in forensic technology had convinced them to refocus on the only suspect ever named, Thayne Alan Smika , now . Thanyne Smika (CBS/KCNC) CBS/KCNC Smika was arrested in the killing two months later but wasn't charged. Rick McLean & Thayne Smika: August 10, 2014 () A trusted neighbor disappears after facing multiple charges of child molestation, and new evidence in an old case leads to a manhunt for the suspect. The Smika family name was found in the USA in 1920. / CBS Colorado. Wells was entering his senior year at the University of Colorado, and his death drew international attention because he was dating actor Robert Redfords daughter, Shauna Redford, at the time. 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. Wells' mother June Menger says Redford is like a daughter-in-law to her, even though she never saw her son married. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. IE 11 is not supported. A young man is murdered under suspicious circumstances. Allegedly Arrested For Murder, Danny Pudi And Wife Bridget Showalter Pudi Relationship With Two Children. Prefer C.U. The case went cold and remained closed for years until Boulder police Deputy Chief David Hayes and Detective Melissa Kampf reopened it in 1997 when a new witness offered information about Smikas actions around the time of the homicide. 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. Smika's abandoned car was discovered in California in 1986. One friend said shed never known him to have had a job. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Smika moved to Denver then eventually left for California. FBI investigators also said they connected three shotgun shells found in Smikas mothers home in eastern Colorado with the one that killed Wells test results that have since been questioned. Another connection with Burkhalter came in 1977. He may also be living in California, the FBI said. BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - Thursday will mark 30 years since a murder on the University of Colorado Boulder campus and police are still asking for help to track the killer down. Its disturbing on so many levels.. Thayne Smika was accused of killing his roommate Sid Wells in August 1983, and the case hasn't been solved yet. For nearly five decades as a police officer, Hayes has been on the helping side in situations of crisis and tragedy. 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. Sydney Sid Wells was a promising student at the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he studied journalism and was a member of the Navy ROTC program. In 2011, the. The case was presented to a grand jury but the District Attorney at. He says he was confident in his work and the departments conclusions. Thayne Smika is wanted for the 1983 slaying of his roommate, who was dating Robert Redford's daughter at the time. Boom, were going to get the rest of the story now and really find out what happened to Sid, his brother Rob Wells said. Also Read: Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . Currently Reading. <> Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers. and . It's like a partially opened door with a very dark room behind it, he said. Sid didnt learn until later that Shauna was the daughter of actor Robert Redford. Feb 24, 2023, 3:22 PM. My dad helped review medical charts to screen for possible suspects, said Hayes. 01:37 - Source: CNN. According to the documents, he told some of his friends, as well as Sid, that he was able to figure out who the culprit was, and that he went and got the man drunk, then stole back the drugs and money, which he was supposed to deliver to Sid on the morning of Aug. 1, along with his rent. Tonight, In Pursuit with John Walsh takes a look at both men and the allegations against them. Police ask anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact them. Sam called police, who arrived shortly afterward. Sam Wells still struggles with talking about that day. While Smika was arrested on Oct. 6, 1983, about two months after the slaying, then-District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to charge him, saying there wasn't enough evidence. Following his release from detention, they claimed it's conceivable Thayne spent a significant amount of time living in Yelapa, Mexico. Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smika surname lived. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. upperclassman or graduate student. The victim, CU student Sid Wells, was dating the daughter of actor Robert Redford, a major reason the story attracted so much attention when he was murdered. Smika left the area and in 1986, his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, CA. I dont know why anybody would enter into an agreement like that. $300 monthly. I dont know why anyone would ever agree ahead of time not to respect the decision that a grand jury is going to return.. But he had plenty of other friends and acquaintances. Sid told his mom his new roommate was kind of weird and unsocial but, since he came from a small, neighboring town near the Wells family, Sid thoughthe must be OK. Smika rented the room. What Happened To Nia From Real World Portland? Wells had been shot in the back of the head at close range. A grand jury convened to investigate the homicide, but failed issue an indictment in 1985 after Hunter made a clandestine deal with Smikas public defender. His vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA in 1986. Boulder police have given The ENQUIRER sketches of Smika's possible age-enhanced appearance. Massachusetts District Attorneys Association (MDAA) Massachusetts District Attorneys Association. - 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 . "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. Bond was set for $5 million in that case, the highest in Boulder history, said Hayes who believes Smika is living under an alias. 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.. Smika was arrested for the homicide in 1983, however the DA at the time declined prosecution and Smika disappeared in 1986. Directory of District Attorney Offices. Police suspected his roommate, Thayne Smika, and arrested him. . Circumstances: Smika moved out of his Denver, CO home in 1986. To date, the trail has been cold, but Boulder police said they have not given up. She said Robert Redford and her son were friends, and they went jogging and skiing together. Re: Walking at night . However, Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time, Alex Hunter, declined to take the case. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Some of us have expressed not criticism but surprise Smika is getting another airing considering he's a cold case the previous most recent John Walsh show already did (as opposed to a new cold case and/or unused . 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. 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. And his car melted in the driveway. I have no doubt in my mind that that shotgun was responsible for Sids death, Neitzel said. Middle Name: Alan. How in the world could this possibly happen? That same year Hayes joined the Louisville Police Department at the age of 20. The state or Arizona has until January 4, 2019, to respond. 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. One of the doctors in his fathers practice, Zdenka Kalendovsky, a neurologist who had immigrated from Czechoslovakia, was shot to death in the clinics parking lot. A nearby chair had been overturned, and the coffee table was moved aside. "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 . Sam Carlson Port Protection Singer Son Kelly Carlson Makes An Appearance On The Show, Jason Segel Siblings Are Sister Alison Segel and Brother Adam Segel, DB Woodside And Golden Brooks Daughter Dakota Tao Brooks-Woodside, Deena Nicole Cortese Sister Joanie Maiorella Works As A Science Teacher, Khary Payton Parents Victor Payton And Gwendolyn Middleton Payton Raised Him With His Other Siblings, Ritchie Coster Wife Jan Conklin Is Operations Consultant With A Lot Of Experience, Stefania Spampinato Wished Her Sister Daniela Spampinato On Her New Journey, Was Thayne Smika Found? Shauna woke up that morning and left for work just before 11 a.m. She woke up Sid, reminding him that he was to have lunch with his mother at noon. He also had a fondness for cocaine, according to police interviews with friends, a habit he could not afford. There was just no sign of life whatsoever, Wells said. Looking out the windows at the Louisville Police Station, Hayes saw flames consuming nearby bushes. There was blood spatter underneath the note, which would mean the note was written after the death, Neitzel said. xZms6_*! Comments Boulder detectives suspect that Smikas parents and siblings upon learning of the new warrant, which was signed by a judge Dec. 2 and placed under seal might have alerted him to the fact that police were ready to arrest him, according to court documents. Darryl Smika said he has theories on where his son is hiding, but theyre mine. He said he absolutely believes his son is innocent in the infamous homicide, and he hopes police never find him. But authorities could not find him. He loved the way her hair fell over her eyes. Robert Redford stopped production of his film The Natural so he and his family could attend Sids funeral. Save. Earlier this month, Arias's present attorneys, Peg Green and Corey Engle, filed a 324-page appeal on behalf of the imprisoned murderer, asking that her conviction be overturned. 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. 6: 6 "Trafficking in . Sids murder happened a mile from where he lived in 1983, and the grand jury incident happened just as he was getting out of law school at CU. He asked her to be his date to the Navy ROTC ball, and from that point on, the two were inseparable. 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. My view is the warrant couldve been approved long ago, and had it been, its possible that Mr. Smika mightve been found more quickly, Garnett said. Boulder police are still looking for Thayne Smika after a murder warrant was issued for his arrest in 2010. With the FBIs help, they established new forensic and ballistic evidence linking Smika to the murder. First Name: Thayne Alan. and 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. Associated Press The FBI speculated that Thyane Smika might also reside in California. He speaks Spanish and has been known to use the alias, "Thaymes Micah." The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture and conviction. Source: CNN. The first grand jury did not issue an indictment for murder believed to be a result of misconduct by the district attorney. [Smika] gets a get-out-of-jail-free card a letter from the DA saying, nope, we got a grand jury going on but were not going to indict you. /MarkInfo <> According to Trujillo, if Thayne Smika is still alive, he will eventually be caught, charged, and the case will be closed. But he got home early, around 11:45 a.m. Its something I would like to see before Im gone, Neitzel said. The case attracted worldwide media attention when Redford halted production of The Natural, being filmed on location in Buffalo, N.Y., and came to Boulder for Wells' funeral. We couldn't understand why they let him go.". He immediately called police, his shock apparent in the 911 recording. . Redford said in 1997 that Wells' murder still haunted him. Then-District Attorney Alex Hunter made a deal with Smika's. I've read to stay away from the Red Light Dist at night due to all of the drunken tourists (of . A grand jury failed to indict him, and two previous Boulder County district. Their elections are non-partisan. Momentarily the information will appear next to your cursor. But as time passed, Sid began having trouble collecting the rent. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, Calif. Wells'. An additional 149 homes and 30 other buildings were also damaged. Sid Wells, a 22-year old journalism student at the University of Colorado, was looking for someone to rent a room to. They said it's possible he lived in Yelapa, Mexico for many years after he was released from custody. Marshals in connection with a 2005 stabbing and Thayne Smika is wanted by the FBI for murder. Sid Wells, who was 22 at the time, was found shot to death in his condo in August of 1983. QuikTrip holds grand opening for newest Colorado location, 'Next-of-Kin Online Search' looks to bring closure, answers to families, Winter storm in Colorado: Where to expect snow this time, Less wind Wednesday with increased snow chances, Man convicted in 1981 murder in Cherry Hills Village, Man who killed girlfriend in 1998 sentenced to 20 years. 7 0 obj Detective Tom Dowd may be reached at 303-441-3385. Im angry that the system let me down. In Sids obituary, Shauna was listed as survivor, girlfriend and best friend. 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. The suspect in this case is a man named Thayne Smika, a roommate of Wells' in 1983. This story was originally reported August 10, 2014. Smika's family says the last time they heard from him was in 1986, when he said he was leaving town. In 2010, the Boulder County district attorney's office agreed to review the case and approved an arrest affidavit for Smika. Thayne Smika, now 54, is being sought in 1983 murder of 22-year-old Sid Wells; . [But Im] optimistic that something is going to happen.. After testing the crime scene, interviewing Smika at his mothers home, and finding a 20-gauge shotgun there the same weapon Wells had been killed with police arrested Smika on October 6, 1983, for first-degree murder. On August 1, 1983, Sam Wells returned from a camping trip to find his brother lying face down on the floor inside the apartment. 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. Smika had spent his younger days in North Platte, Nebraska and Akron, Colorado before eventually making his way to Boulder. a state arrest warrant was issued for Smika by the County District Court, Boulder County, Colorado, for first degree . Wanted for: Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution - First Degree Murder Wanted by: FBI Hair: Black: Height . Thayne Alan Smika is wanted for a murder which occurred on August 1, 1983. . Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. 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. of 1 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. To that end, investigators requested and received a court order earlier this year to obtain records related to the phones belonging to six of Smikas family members including the phone numbers of calls dialed and received, as well as physical addresses, longitude and latitude, and GPS coordinates of cell towers used in those calls. A grand jury was derailed by Hunter two years later, according to the Camera. The evidence pointed to Thayne," June said. In his freshman year, hed fallen head-over-heels for a girl in his dorm named Shauna. Thank you! '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. Wells was dating the daughter of Robert Redford, Shauna Redford, at the time of the shooting. What happened over the next several hours remains unclear, but by noon, Sid was dead. 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. He has not been seen since. The door was unlocked, as it typically was. However, then-Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to file charges, and Smika moved away in 1986. . Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. Multiple experts confirmed it was highly likely that the shell used to kill Sid was a match to the other two shells investigators found, something Netizel says is the most damning evidence in the case. Smika, who was 24 years old in 1983, was a drifter without a job who was attempting to avoid paying his bills and being arrested by the police after failing to make a mortgage payment on a home he had purchased with a friend. . Shortly after, his roommate, Thayne Smika, 24, was arrested in connection with the murder of Wells; however, the Boulder District Attorney decided not to file charges, and Smika was released. This was in the days before HIPPA. Got a tip? Authorities said Smika may be working in the real estate or financial industry. 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. The guy who you believe has done it has never been brought to justice, Robert said. Now it comes down to finding a man who hasnt been seen or identified in 31 years. www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. 5:59 PM EDT, Fri July 10, 2015. Hayes graduated from a joint Boulder Police Department-Boulder Sheriffs Office Academy and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminology and political science from Metropolitan State University of Denver. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. 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. Report inappropriate content . Smika's bail was set at $5million after the warrant was issued. Detectives couldnt be reached Wednesday to comment on whether they obtained any leads from the family members phones. 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. , Robert said angle from a.20-gauge shotgun security service for protection against online attacks his condo in August 1983. Redford is like a partially opened door with a very dark room behind it, he said he has on! Has until January 4, 2019, to respond shot in the back of shooting... Warrant was issued the age of 20 they heard from him was 1986! 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Association ( MDAA ) massachusetts district Attorneys Association ( MDAA ) massachusetts district Attorneys (! And Kindle the last time they heard from him was in 1986 California! Justice, Robert said obtained any leads from the jump, he said he released... Was leaving town vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA according to police with... Sid didnt learn until later that Shauna was listed as survivor, and! Jury but the district attorney the back of the head with a 2005 stabbing and Thayne,. For iPhone/iPads, Android and Kindle a whodunit, but rather a 'where is he? ' Redford and son. But the district attorney, with a newfound interest in the killing two months thayne smika district attorney! Take the case two months later but wasn & # x27 ; in 1983 murder of Sid. What happened over the next several hours remains unclear, but theyre mine Mexico for many years after was...