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. The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika or called him by that name, at least since 1986. Police focused their attention on Thayne Smika and, when forensic evidence confirmed their suspicions, they arrested him. 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? He asked her to be his date to the Navy ROTC ball, and from that point on, the two were inseparable. Thayne Smika Warrant. 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. 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. Also Read: Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? Smika was eventually let out of custody, and stayed around the area for a couple years. But I hope its solved with the criminal who did it, not with my son being convicted of something he didnt do.. Darryl Smika said he thinks authorities are wasting their time and money looking for his son. Assistant District Attorney Kevin M. Osborne Mary C. Brejcha Jayne Davis Dewire Andrea M. Will Lindsey H. Hirt Abbey L. Nickolie Melissa J. Zilavy Shawn N. Woller Kristina J. Gordon Jack A. Pitzo Molly M. Schmidt Zachary A. Wittchow He loved the way her hair fell over her eyes. This process is automatic. 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. There was just no sign of life whatsoever, Wells said. Smika, who was often late with rent, was supposed to pay Wells the day he was killed, investigators said. Sam Wells still struggles with talking about that day. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. During his boyhood, Hayes thought about becoming a priest, but an interaction with a Denver police officer, R. James Burkhalter, helped him decide what he wanted to be. It's like a partially opened door with a very dark room behind it, he said. Sid Wells in 1983 (credit: Boulder Police Department). 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. It's time for justice, said Hayes, who has remained in touch with Wells' family over the last three decades. Stories worth watching 16 videos. How can a district attorney actually handle his grand jury in such a manner? . 5:59 PM EDT, Fri July 10, 2015. Missing. 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. . However, Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time, Alex Hunter, declined to take the case. Or, keep up-to-date by following Denver7 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The former DA, Hunter, served as the Boulder County District Attorney from 1973 to 2001, when Mary Lacy became head of the office. 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. 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.. Burkhalter, who had become a homicide detective, thought that the suspect might be a former patient at the clinic. He also reviewed the grand jury decision by Hunter. 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. For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings.Si. We couldn't understand why they let him go.". 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. Dave Hayes was a rookie detective in the Boulder Police Department when Sid Wells was killed. 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. But more tips started rolling in. Smika was arrested for the homicide in 1983, however the DA at the time declined prosecution and Smika disappeared in 1986. Thayne Smika, who is believed to be living under an assumed identity, would be 54 now. Re: Walking at night . First Name: Thayne Alan. Or, keep up-to-date on the latest news and weather with the Denver7 apps for iPhone/iPads, Android and Kindle. 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. According to court documents, Smika, who was 24 in 1983, was a jobless drifter who was trying to skirt paying bills and getting caught by authorities after failing to pay a mortgage on a house hed bought with a friend a couple years earlier. 2023 Cable News Network. "It's past time for justice for Sid Wells and his family," Deputy Chief Dave Hayes said. Im angry that the system let me down. Reply. On August 1, 1983, Sam Wells returned from a camping trip to find his brother lying face down on the floor inside the apartment. In 2010, the Boulder County district attorney's office agreed to review the case and approved an arrest affidavit for Smika. 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. Police in 2011 issued a first-degree-murder arrest warrant for Thayne Smika, 54, . Hayes father was a Denver physician who became ill and had to step back from his medical practice. The FBI is currently offering a reward of $10,000 for information that results in Smika's capture and conviction. 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. "The police department felt that way, his friends and roommates felt that way. Thayne Smika Missing Thayne Smika Follow Thayne's Case Smika moved out of his Denver, CO home in 1986. 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. 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. 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. 01:37 - Source: CNN. It's been 31 years since Sid Wells was shot execution-style in his own home in Boulder, Colorado and his terminally ill mother has yet to see his killer locked up. After police ruled his brother out as a suspect, they began to focus on Smika. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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's daughter when he was shot to . Following his release from detention, they claimed it's conceivable Thayne spent a significant amount of time living in Yelapa, Mexico. 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. Sam called police, who arrived shortly afterward. In his freshman year, hed fallen head-over-heels for a girl in his dorm named Shauna. Wells was dating the daughter of Robert Redford, Shauna Redford, at the time of the shooting. Shauna quit college. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe According to Detective Hayes, This is not a whodunit, but rather a 'where is he?'. Also Read: Debra Jeter Death And Daughter Kiersten Jeter Netflix Documentary Case Dateline. The Wells family owned the condo and had bought it for their children to use while in college. After Boulder police gathered additional evidence in the case in December 2012, a judge issued an arrest warrant for Smika. 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. 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. Thayne Alan Smika, photo taken in 1983, courtesy of fbi.gov Smika was known around town as a college dropout and drifter. A Boulder County grand jury was convened to investigate the homicide but failed to issue an indictment in 1985 after Hunter made a secret agreement with Smika's public . I wasnt ready to retire, and this opportunity came available, said Hayes who turned 66 this year. According to the court filings, Smika's friends and acquaintances described him as dirty, messy, and volatile. Thayne Smika for decades has been considered the main suspect in the death of Wells, 22, who was living with his brother and Smika in Boulder's Spanish Towers when his body was found Aug. 1,. Hunter said he agreed not to pursue an indictment of Smika in October 1983, before the grand jury began its investigation, in exchange for keeping Smikas expiring $100,000 bond in force for two more weeks. 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. To view more information on a district, click on a county within that region. /MarkInfo <> Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. - 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 . a state arrest warrant was issued for Smika by the County District Court, Boulder County, Colorado, for first degree . He worked through college at the Boulderado Hotel. Thayne Smika is wanted for first-degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. But in 2009, Stan Garnett took over as district attorney, with a newfound interest in the case. Photo from the Boulder Daily Camera Spring 2011 Campus News For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings. . "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. Following the murder, Shauna went on to marry university professor Eric Schlosser, the best-selling author of Fast Food Nation. But he got home early, around 11:45 a.m. 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. Marshals in connection with a 2005 stabbing and Thayne Smika is wanted by the FBI for murder. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Sid Wells, who was 22 at the time, was found shot to death in his condo in August of 1983. The first grand jury did not issue an indictment for murder believed to be a result of misconduct by the district attorney. Stories worth watching (13 Videos) Roommate missing after killing Oct. 6, 1983: Police arrest Thayne Smika, who was living with Wells at the time of the crime, at his family home in Akron. I dont know that Ill live long enough to see a resolution in this case, but I would hope that I can, and Ive never given up hope, she said. 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. He spent a little over half an hour airing out his sleeping bag and cleaning out his car before going upstairs to his apartment. But he came anyway because of his close friendship with Wells. A warrant for his arrest on forgery charges was issued out of Denver in early 1986, but he was never arrested and the warrant was eventually dropped. Investigators are still looking for Thayne Smika and are asking anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact . 06:57 GMT 09 Aug 2014 What Happened To Nia From Real World Portland? An aspiring journalist, Wells also was part of the universitys Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. "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 . Sids case went mostly cold over the next 20-or-so years, but Boulder investigators over the years continued to try and use new forensic technologies to see if they could glean any more evidence from what they had in storage. of 1 We are no longer accepting comments on this article. She was devastated, June Menger recalled. Momentarily the information will appear next to your cursor. In 2011, the Boulder County District Attorneys office approved an arrest warrant for Smika on first-degree murder but his whereabouts are unknown. His sister, Tava Smika, currently lives in Vaughn, MT. The evidence pointed to Thayne," June said. 100 posts. Source: CNN. However, then-district attorney Alex Hunter -- well. 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 22-year-old University of Colorado student had been dating Robert Redford's daughter Shauna Redford for three years at the time of his death, and she was so devastated by the loss that she dropped out of college. '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. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. A. Greg In December 2012, a judge signed an arrest warrant for Smika after Boulder police developed more evidence in the case. Smika was also profiled in the January 23, 2019 episode of the Investigation Discovery series In Pursuit with John Walsh. 6: 6 "Trafficking in . Updated Thank you! Smika would be off scot-free for the time being, which infuriated the still-grieving Wells family. Detectives couldnt be reached Wednesday to comment on whether they obtained any leads from the family members phones. Discovery Company. Hayes home was one that was turned to ash. I have no doubt in my mind that that shotgun was responsible for Sids death, Neitzel said. Wind gusts were clocked at 70 to 100 mph. 15 0 obj Whether movers in Fort Collins are helping you Windows are often overlooked when designing or purchasing home decor. Things were going as planned for Smika, according to the documents, late on July 31. 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. An abandoned car registered to his father, who said he gave the car to Smika before he left town, was found in Beverly Hills, California in 1986, but there was no sign of Smika. With the Marshall Fire, he experienced being a victim, something he says has given him an increased sense of empathy in working with others. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. 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 case was presented to a grand jury but the District Attorney at. upperclassman or graduate student. Its something she and her family have never gotten over. Furnished living room. Wells was dating Shauna Jean Redford, the daughter of actor Robert Redford, and this brought attention to the case on a global scale. BOULDER, Colorado (AP) 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's daughter when he was shot to death three decades ago. but it can also be stressful. When asked by the Camera on Wednesday whether she knows where her son is, she said, Would I tell you?. 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. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. A Warner Bros. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Wells and Redford's daughter Shauna, then 22 years old, were both students at the University of Colorado and lived in the same building. The grand jury was the biggest shock for my family and the most difficult thing to deal with, said Robert Wells, Sids older brother.