He worked through college at the Boulderado Hotel. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. 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. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. He also had some small-time involvement in the use and sale of cocaine, according to police documents. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at http://www.crimeshurt.com. 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. 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. Thayne Smika Missing Thayne Smika Follow Thayne's Case Smika moved out of his Denver, CO home in 1986. 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. Sids older brother, Sam, found his body. 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. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . 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. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. I knew at that point nothing was ever going to come from that grand jury, Neitzel said. I dont know why anyone would ever agree ahead of time not to respect the decision that a grand jury is going to return.. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Smika left the area and in 1986, his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, CA. 2. 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. 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. Link Copied! "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. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. He loved the way her hair fell over her eyes. Thayne Smika has been missing since 1986 after his mother posted a bond for the 1983 murder of his roommate Sid Wells. Pic Credit: U.S. This will be a great fit for Estes Park for a lot of reasons.. Furnished living room. However, then-district attorney Alex Hunter -- well. . Im still hopeful, Robert said. She grieved in ways that I cant even imagine, Menger said. 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. 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. This was about 33% of all the recorded Smika's in USA. The documents detail several personal timelines from people interviewed by detectives that investigators say show Smika was his killer. Boulder police are asking for help finding Smika, suspected of killing Sid Wells, a 22-year-old. Smika's potential motivation would have been because she owed Wells $300 in rent that day. in 2011 the Boulder County District Attorney's Office reviewed the case and approved an. She said she isn't bitter about the delays in getting a murder warrant. 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. They said it's possible he lived in Yelapa, Mexico for many years after he was released from custody. 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. Wells' mother, June Menger, said that Boulder investigators have been dogged in their work to solve the case. /Metadata 6 0 R>> His sister, Tava Smika, currently lives in Vaughn, MT. What happened over the next several hours remains unclear, but by noon, Sid was dead. On August 1, 1983, Sam Wells returned from a camping trip to find his brother lying face down on the floor inside the apartment. An additional 149 homes and 30 other buildings were also damaged. New DA furthers investigation, obtains new arrest warrant. He asked her to be his date to the Navy ROTC ball, and from that point on, the two were inseparable. Stories worth watching (13 Videos) Roommate missing after killing Smika told the detectives that a possible suspect was Craig Evans, a man Smika said had been stealing cocaine from the victim. 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. Furnished living room. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, Calif. Wells'. But he wouldnt know that until later that evening. Prefer C.U. Smika charged, but DA's deal throws case into disarray. In 1997, a police officer posing as a journalism student talked to Smika's mother, who said her son had changed his name because he was afraid for his life because he knew who the real killer was. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Wells friend told police that the morning of Wells death, Smika was supposed to return some money to Sid, according to former Boulder County deputy chief Dave Hayes. but it can also be stressful. 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. 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. After Boulder police gathered additional evidence in the case in December 2012, a judge issued an arrest warrant for Smika. Thayne Smika was accused of killing his roommate Sid Wells in August 1983, and the case hasn't been solved yet. Published on September 2019 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 6 | Comments: 0 | Views: 288 of 46 We couldn't understand why they let him go.". Tonight, In Pursuit with John Walsh takes a look at both men and the allegations against them. Investigators wasted no time paying a visit to Smika in Akron. 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,. But as long as theyre not giving up, we have hope.. To view more information on a district, click on a county within that region. Detectives found a .20-gauge shotgun and several cartridges in his closet in Akron, and took those into evidence. 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. He also reviewed the grand jury decision by Hunter. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . appreciated. What Happened To Nia From Real World Portland? But when he walked inside, he found Sid dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. It's like a partially opened door with a very dark room behind it, he said. 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. With the Marshall Fire, he experienced being a victim, something he says has given him an increased sense of empathy in working with others. . Its disturbing on so many levels.. Police ask anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact them. In 2017, Hayes bought a home in Estes Park with the thought that he would eventually retire in the community. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, California. Hayes worked on many cocaine cases in the 1970s and 1980s and was an investigator in the 1983 homicide of Sid Wells a University of Colorado student who was dating Robert Redfords daughter Shauna. 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. 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 Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Thayne.. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers. For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings.Si. A. Greg Im 100 percent. 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. 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. For his first date with Shauna Redford, the two went to an ROTC dance, the site Daily Camera reported. endstream According to the affidavit, Boulder police received the requested information from the phone companies on Feb. 24. 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. To date, the trail has been cold, but Boulder police said they have not given up. 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. One friend said shed never known him to have had a job. But he got home early, around 11:45 a.m. 15:04 GMT 09 Aug 2014. A broken hearted Shauna later left the university. According to the FBI, Thayne Smika hasn't been seen since he was freed from detention. It would be unusual for someone to absent themselves from contact with any and all known family members for such an extended period of time, Detective Traci Cravitz wrote in an affidavit supporting the departments request for phone records, which was made public Wednesday. Investigators are still looking for Thayne Smika and are asking anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact . Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Bond was set for $5 million in that case, the highest in Boulder history, said Hayes who believes Smika is living under an alias. That same year Hayes joined the Louisville Police Department at the age of 20. 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. A young man is murdered under suspicious circumstances. %PDF-1.7 This story was originally reported August 10, 2014. Im angry that the system let me down. 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. The FBI is currently offering a reward of $10,000 for information that results in Smika's capture and conviction. Smika, who was often late with rent, was supposed to pay Wells the day he was killed, investigators said. Wells was dating the daughter of Robert Redford, Shauna Redford, at the time of the shooting. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. 7 0 obj Last Name: Smika. The district attorney's office in Boulder County . Police said a possible motive was that Smika owed Wells $300 for rent that day. 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. 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. Directory of District Attorney Offices. . 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. Sid didnt learn until later that Shauna was the daughter of actor Robert Redford. Walking anywhere including the Red Light District is fine. District Attorney Susan L. Opper. Also Read: Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? Call 1-866-THE-HUNT (In Mexico: 0188000990546) or click here. 100 posts. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. 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. She was devastated, June Menger recalled. I have no doubt in my mind that that shotgun was responsible for Sids death, Neitzel said. The Smika family name was found in the USA in 1920. But authorities could not find him. <> The grand jury was the biggest shock for my family and the most difficult thing to deal with, said Robert Wells, Sids older brother. Smika's potential motivation would have been because she owed Wells $300 in rent that day. 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. Also Read: Debra Jeter Death And Daughter Kiersten Jeter Netflix Documentary Case Dateline. Thanyne Smika (CBS/KCNC) CBS/KCNC Smika was arrested in the killing two months later but wasn't charged. An aspiring journalist, Wells also was part of the universitys Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. 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. The state or Arizona has until January 4, 2019, to respond. 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. Thayne Smika, now 54, is being sought in 1983 murder of 22-year-old Sid Wells; . 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. So thats when we started thinking maybe Thayne isnt so innocent.. 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. . If you have information about Thayne Smika or his whereabouts contact Detective Jeremy Frenzen at 303-441-1890 orfrenzenj@bouldercolorado.gov. 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. 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. * DNA Update -- History Repeats Itself: Twice now Boulder District Attorneys have misled the public in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case. [But Im] optimistic that something is going to happen.. A Warner Bros. The Moving can be an exciting experience. The door was unlocked, as it typically was. 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. John Walsh is looking for a man suspected of killing his roommate and has been on the run since 1986. His vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA in 1986. Boulder police believe he may have a new identity and he may be working as a bookkeeper or accountant. TRAITS & CHARACTERISTICS: Height: 5 feet 11 inches Weight: 140 pounds at the time of the incident Sex: Male Race: White Eyes: Hazel Place of Birth: North Dakota Hair: Brown, could be sun-bleached IE 11 is not supported. 01:37 - Source: CNN. 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. With the FBIs help, they established new forensic and ballistic evidence linking Smika to the murder. 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. How can a district attorney actually handle his grand jury in such a manner? I believe its possible that he still is out there.. But I hope its solved with the criminal who did it, not with my son being convicted of something he didnt do.. 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. But Smika was still off the radar, and nobody had looked at any of the new evidence hard enough to pursue new charges. As a Catholic kid from a large family in South Denver, Hayes fell in love with Estes Park during summers at Camp St. Malo. "The police department felt that way, his friends and roommates felt that way. Wells had been shot in the back of the head at close range. A maid corroborated hearing a similar noise around the same time. Smika was a leading suspect when the coroner declared the death to be a homicide. Thayne Alan Smika, photo taken in 1983, courtesy of fbi.gov Smika was known around town as a college dropout and drifter. 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. I have not been in touch with him, and I have no intentions of trying to do so. Sid Wells in 1983 (credit: Boulder Police Department). Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Unclear, but Boulder thayne smika district attorney said a possible motive was that Smika owed Wells $ 300 in that! 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