Re: Walking at night . The trail has been frozen, but Boulder police said they haven't given up. THAYNE ALAN SMIKA . Got a tip? Momentarily the information will appear next to your cursor. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . All Rights Reserved. The FBI speculated that Thyane Smika might also reside in California. Sam called police, who arrived shortly afterward. I wasnt ready to retire, and this opportunity came available, said Hayes who turned 66 this year. But he got home early, around 11:45 a.m. Shauna showed up a few minutes later. Stories worth watching 16 videos. What happened over the next several hours remains unclear, but by noon, Sid was dead. Report inappropriate content . 2. 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. In 2022 Hayes was a Democratic primary candidate for Sheriff in Boulder County running against Curtis Johnson, a division chief with the Boulder County Sheriffs Office. Smika says he told Sid about the trip the night before. 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 left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, Calif. Wells'. Dave Hayes was a rookie detective in the Boulder Police Department when Sid Wells was killed. Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines. Sid Wells, a 22-year old journalism student at the University of Colorado, was looking for someone to rent a room to. According to court documents, he told his family members to get passports in order to be able to visit him, implying that he would be leaving the country, but his family claims they havent heard from him since either. In 1986 his abandoned car, a Dodge Aries, was found in Beverly Hills wiped clean of prints. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . Wells was dating Shauna Jean Redford, the daughter of actor Robert Redford, and this brought attention to the case on a global scale. The following week, Smika's mother posts a $100,000 bond, and. With the Marshall Fire, he experienced being a victim, something he says has given him an increased sense of empathy in working with others. Police and prosecutors know their suspect and have a warrant out for his arrest. 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. In the summer of 1983, 22-year-old Sid Wells was living with his older brother in their familys Boulder, Colorado, condominium and studying journalism at the University of Colorado. The documents detail several personal timelines from people interviewed by detectives that investigators say show Smika was his killer. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. The Moving can be an exciting experience. To view more information on a district, click on a county within that region. 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. Or, keep up-to-date on the latest news and weather with the Denver7 apps for iPhone/iPads, Android and Kindle. , updated Example video title will go here for this video. Hayes is the 2022-2023 President of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. Oklahoma had the highest population of Smika families in 1920. 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. 1 0 obj Smika had spent his younger days in North Platte, Nebraska and Akron, Colorado before eventually making his way to Boulder. The first grand jury did not issue an indictment for murder believed to be a result of misconduct by the district attorney. She said Redford initially decided not to attend the funeral, worried it would become a media circus. Published on September 2019 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 6 | Comments: 0 | Views: 288 of 46 Smika's bail was set at $5million after the warrant was issued. 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' Subscribe 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. To date, the trail has been cold, but Boulder police said they have not given up. By Vicky Collins, Dateline NBCIt's an unsolved mystery involving a beautiful college town, a picture-perfect young couple and even a movie star.It all started with this classified ad in the Boulder Daily Camera, January, 1983.SPANISH Towers Luxury Condominiums. I have not been in touch with him, and I have no intentions of trying to do so. 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. $300 monthly. endstream Detective Tom Dowd may be reached at 303-441-3385. "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 . 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,. 348 Sid, Shauna and a friend eventually ended up back at Sid and Smikas apartment, and they drank and used cocaine, according to the documents. 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. He is passionate about what he calls constitutional policing. Most of what we do is not police work, it is community safety. Smika was never seen again. 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. But part of his story didnt add up from the beginning: His mother was away on a trip to Fort Collins all week. For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings.Si. endobj He spent a little over half an hour airing out his sleeping bag and cleaning out his car before going upstairs to his apartment. Sid really seemed like he was a victim that should never have been. A broken hearted Shauna later left the university. 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. 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. In 2011, the. %PDF-1.7 Investigators are still looking for Thayne Smika and are asking anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact . A Boulder Daily Camera piece on this development notes that Smika was suspect number one in the execution-style slaying from the jump. It all started with this classified ad in the Boulder Daily Camera, January, 1983. After a cold case investigation in December 2010 an arrest warrant for the murder was issued. That same year Hayes joined the Louisville Police Department at the age of 20. He has not been seen since. Associated Press <> Boom, were going to get the rest of the story now and really find out what happened to Sid, his brother Rob Wells said. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. Thayne, WY Attorney (307) 883-9972 Duke University School of Law University of Wyoming California, Wyoming and U.S. Supreme Court Wyoming State Bar and Member, State Bar of California 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. but it can also be stressful. Stories worth watching (13 Videos) Roommate missing after killing and Police said a possible motive was that Smika owed Wells $300 for rent that day. 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. Police focused their attention on Thayne Smika and, when forensic evidence confirmed their suspicions, they arrested him. Police believe Thayne Smika could be hiding in Mexico or California under an assumed identity. A Denver district attorney has called parts of Colorado, "the Wild West of weed." Sales across state lines have pitted one legal jurisdiction against another, as marijuana laws differ widely around the country. Darryl Smika said he thinks authorities are wasting their time and money looking for his son. Thayne Smika, who is believed to be living under an assumed identity, would be 54 now. The whole thing was extremely frustrating.. 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. When she came back around 12:15 p.m., her boyfriend was dead. 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. Feb 24, 2023, 3:22 PM. /Outlines 4 0 R Boulder police are asking for help finding Smika, suspected of killing Sid Wells, a 22-year-old. The Moving can be an exciting experience. Investigators wasted no time paying a visit to Smika in Akron. But authorities could not find him. Then they learned that prosecutors had declined to charge Smika with the killing, saying there wasnt enough evidence. A nearby chair had been overturned, and the coffee table was moved aside. 01:37 - Source: CNN. New DA furthers investigation, obtains new arrest warrant. Marshals photo. Thayne Alan Smika is wanted for a murder which occurred on August 1, 1983. . Allegedly Arrested For Murder, Debra Jeter Death And Daughter Kiersten Jeter Netflix Documentary Case Dateline, Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? Smika was also profiled in the January 23, 2019 episode of the Investigation Discovery series In Pursuit with John Walsh. Under Garnett, an arrest warrant was issued for Thayne Smika, a roommate of Wells' and a longtime suspect in the case. 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. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. Smika was a leading suspect when the coroner declared the death to be a homicide. 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. Police in 2011 issued a first-degree-murder arrest warrant for Thayne Smika, 54, . And it was questions from Sid and friends regarding several grams of missing coke, a few hundred dollars, and Smika's behavior that police believe eventually led to Sids murder just before noon on Aug. 1, 1983. He says he was confident in his work and the departments conclusions. Marshals in connection with a 2005 stabbing and Thayne Smika is wanted by the FBI for murder. Authorities said Smika may be working in the real estate or financial industry. 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. 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. Bond was set for $5 million in that case, the highest in Boulder history, said Hayes who believes Smika is living under an alias. 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. 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. Following his release from detention, they claimed it's conceivable Thayne spent a significant amount of time living in Yelapa, Mexico. 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. However, they are crucial to any rooms look and feel. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Frozen Dead Guy Days live music and entertainment lineup announced, Estes Womens Monument given prestigious history award, Perspectives: Watched by Howard P. 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