Pic Credit: U.S. Directory of District Attorney Offices. Example video title will go here for this video. Wells' brother found his body August 1, 1983, in Wells' Spanish Towers condominium. 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. Finding Smika is especially urgent because June Menger is now battling stage four cancer and would like closure and justice for her son in her lifetime. Or, keep up-to-date by following Denver7 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. in 2011 the Boulder County District Attorney's Office reviewed the case and approved an. July 31, 2013 / 9:40 PM An autopsy showed Wells was shot execution-style at point-blank range in the back of the head with a 20-gauge shotgun. Smika, who was often late with rent, was supposed to pay Wells the day he was killed, investigators said. Thank you! "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. The grand jury was the biggest shock for my family and the most difficult thing to deal with, said Robert Wells, Sids older brother. The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika or called him by that name, at least since 1986. For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings. However, then-Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to file charges, and Smika moved away in 1986. . In 2011, the. 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. Last updated: July 17, 2020 Denver, CO Circumstances: Smika moved out of his Denver, CO home in 1986. For his first date with Shauna Redford, the two went to an ROTC dance, the site Daily Camera reported. www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Middle Name: Alan. 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. Save. Smika was also profiled in the January 23, 2019 episode of the Investigation Discovery series In Pursuit with John Walsh. 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. 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. Investigators pay a visit to Smika's mother's home. Boulder police issued a statement Wednesday saying they're looking for Thayne Smika, who is still being sought after a murder warrant was issued for his . Police in 2011 issued a first-degree-murder arrest warrant for Thayne Smika, 54, . THAYNE ALAN SMIKA . ", Additional Information From Boulder Police. 1, 1983, but the district attorney determined that there was not enough evidence to prosecute. 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. Although he says he doesnt know what went into Hunters decision or why the former DA decided to reach the agreement with Smika, he says hes still left with questions. He is passionate about what he calls constitutional policing. Most of what we do is not police work, it is community safety. 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 Boulders Spanish Towers when his body was found Aug. 1, 1983, shot to death execution-style. 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. [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. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Burkhalter, who had become a homicide detective, thought that the suspect might be a former patient at the clinic. www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. He worked through college at the Boulderado Hotel. endobj Recent information indicates he may be living near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Associated Press 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. Feb 24, 2023, 3:22 PM. 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. 'The Hunt': Thayne Smika . 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. She said Robert Redford and her son were friends, and they went jogging and skiing together. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much They can do all they want, but I have had no contact with him.. But Sid was rarely home, according to friends, and was often with Shauna when he wasnt working or at school. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Wells was dating the daughter of Robert Redford, Shauna Redford, at the time of the shooting. "Smika's relatives have not provided any helpful information to the Boulder Police Department," police spokesperson Kim Kobel said in a statement. Stories worth watching 16 videos. 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. 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. Comments 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. It's like a partially opened door with a very dark room behind it, he said. Smika left the area and in 1986, his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, CA. This was about 33% of all the recorded Smika's in USA. Sid and his brother needed a roommate and settled on Smika, but they werent close friends. Redford said in 1997 that Wells' murder still haunted him. However, Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time, Alex Hunter, declined to take the case. The DA's office "did not think there was enough evidence to file charges"., prompting criticism of Hunter from the victim's grieving mother. In 2010, the Boulder County district attorney's office agreed to review the case and approved an arrest affidavit for Smika. 11 reviews. A Warner Bros. a state arrest warrant was issued for Smika by the County District Court, Boulder County, Colorado, for first degree . 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. 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. /MarkInfo <> After years of consulting with the manufacturer of the shotgun shells used in Sids murder and the ones found in Smikas closet in Akron, investigators were eventually able to learn that the three shells were uniquely old when they were used, had all been loaded into Smikas shotgun, and all had the same chemical makeup. 2. And his car melted in the driveway. and Smika's potential motivation would have been because she owed Wells $300 in rent that day. 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. Police believe Thayne Smika could be hiding in Mexico or California under an assumed identity. Last seen alive: October 01, 1986. But authorities could not find him. Now it comes down to finding a man who hasnt been seen or identified in 31 years. . Link Copied! Sid really seemed like he was a victim that should never have been. 2 0 obj 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' Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. Published on September 2019 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 6 | Comments: 0 | Views: 288 of 46 Call 1-866-THE-HUNT (In Mexico: 0188000990546) or click here. Another connection with Burkhalter came in 1977. Thayne Alan Smika, photo taken in 1983, courtesy of fbi.gov Smika was known around town as a college dropout and drifter. When Wells was assassinated, he had just started his final year at the University of Colorado and was 22 years old. Deputy District Attorney Lesli S. Boese Ted S. Szczupakiewicz Michael D. Thurston. He loved the way her hair fell over her eyes. What happened over the next several hours remains unclear, but by noon, Sid was dead. First published on July 31, 2013 / 9:40 PM. "The police department felt that way, his friends and roommates felt that way. My brother is dead, and Im angry that the system didnt work better then. However, Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time, Alex Hunter, declined to take the case. Whether movers in Fort Collins are helping you Windows are often overlooked when designing or purchasing home decor. 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. 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. 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. Wells and Redford's daughter Shauna, then 22 years old, were both students at the University of Colorado and lived in the same building. I believe its possible that he still is out there.. Sid didnt learn until later that Shauna was the daughter of actor Robert Redford. The FBI speculated that Thyane Smika might also reside in California. 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. but it can also be stressful. Hayes father was a Denver physician who became ill and had to step back from his medical practice. According to Trujillo, if Thayne Smika is still alive, he will eventually be caught, charged, and the case will be closed. You all made up your own stories.. 7 0 obj Im still hopeful. But Sid and a friend confronted him about the missing drugs, andSmika blamed their disappearance on another man. 16 0 obj Smika moved to Denver then eventually left for California. Investigators are still looking for Thayne Smika and are asking anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact . 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. Marshals in connection with a 2005 stabbing and Thayne Smika is wanted by the FBI for murder. 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. Hayes is the 2022-2023 President of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. Thayne Smika disappeared in 1986, and the police didn't issue an arrest order for him until 2011. His home of 32 years, where he raised two daughters, was a half mile from the police station, but Hayess attention was on a joint operation with area sheriff, police and fire departments. Smika's mother) Thayne Alan Smika, a white male, DOB February 27, 1959, and then described as being 5-11, 140 pounds with Brown Hair and Brown Eyes, was at the residence and the detectives notified him of the murder. Shauna quit college. Prefer C.U. 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. "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 . According to the court filings, Smika's friends and acquaintances described him as dirty, messy, and volatile. 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. She was devastated, June Menger recalled. But he got home early, around 11:45 a.m. Wind gusts were clocked at 70 to 100 mph. Im still hopeful, Robert said. [But Im] optimistic that something is going to happen.. /Outlines 4 0 R He spent a little over half an hour airing out his sleeping bag and cleaning out his car before going upstairs to his apartment. His sister, Tava Smika, currently lives in Vaughn, MT. 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