Police suspected his roommate, Thayne Smika, and arrested him. Boulder police believe he may have a new identity and he may be working as a bookkeeper or accountant. Thayne Smika Warrant. Thayne.. Discovery Company. I knew at that point nothing was ever going to come from that grand jury, Neitzel said. Detectives found a .20-gauge shotgun and several cartridges in his closet in Akron, and took those into evidence. Thayne Smika disappeared in 1986, and the police didn't issue an arrest order for him until 2011. 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. My brother is dead, and Im angry that the system didnt work better then. 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. Trujillo said if Smika is still alive, he's confident he'll eventually be caught and prosecuted and the case will finally be solved. "It's past time for justice for Sid Wells and his family," Deputy Chief Dave Hayes said. The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika - or called him by that name, at least - since 1986. Smika was never seen again. 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.. Were revictimized on a daily basis because our loved one is not there to share that moment with us. The FBI speculated that Thyane Smika might also reside in California. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Momentarily the information will appear next to your cursor. Thayne Alan Smika, photo taken in 1983, courtesy of fbi.gov Smika was known around town as a college dropout and drifter. 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. The guy who you believe has done it has never been brought to justice, Robert said. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. appreciated. and 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.. 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. In 1920 there were 2 Smika families living in Oklahoma. The FBI is currently offering a reward of $10,000 for information that results in Smika's capture and conviction. 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. Prefer C.U. 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. In 1986 his abandoned car, a Dodge Aries, was found in Beverly Hills wiped clean of prints. An autopsy showed Wells was shot execution-style at point-blank range in the back of the head with a 20-gauge shotgun. 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. 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. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. The fire, which began at about 11 a.m., quickly spread to some 6,000 acres across a populated suburban area just south of Boulder. 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. Missing. 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. a state arrest warrant was issued for Smika by the County District Court, Boulder County, Colorado, for first degree . Associated Press Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings. '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. Darryl Smika said he thinks authorities are wasting their time and money looking for his son. After Boulder police gathered additional evidence in a case in December 2012, a judge issued an arrest warrant for Smika. However, they are crucial to any rooms look and feel. 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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. Following an investigation, authorities discovered Sid had been killed by a single shot fired at a slight downward angle from a.20-gauge shotgun. 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. Looking out the windows at the Louisville Police Station, Hayes saw flames consuming nearby bushes. I wasnt ready to retire, and this opportunity came available, said Hayes who turned 66 this year. 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. 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. Police in 2011 issued a first-degree-murder arrest warrant for Thayne Smika, 54, . Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers. 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. This was in the days before HIPPA. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, Calif. Wells'. Im still hopeful. Oct. 6, 1983: Police arrest Thayne Smika, who was living with Wells at the time of the crime, at his family home in Akron. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. What Happened To Nia From Real World Portland? 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. 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. Shauna showed up a few minutes later. 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 Wells' mother June Menger says Redford is like a daughter-in-law to her, even though she never saw her son married. After police ruled his brother out as a suspect, they began to focus on Smika. He may also be living in California, the FBI said. 7 0 obj What happened over the next several hours remains unclear, but by noon, Sid was dead. The trail has been icy, but Boulder police said they haven't given up. 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. Also Read: Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? Lakewood, Ohio. Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smika surname lived. John Walsh is looking for a man suspected of killing his roommate and has been on the run since 1986. Honorary U.S. Smika, who shared an apartment with Sid Wells in the plush Spanish Towers condominium complex near the CU campus, was arrested late Thursday at his mother's home in the eastern Colorado farming. 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. www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. And his younger sister told investigators that the first thing Smika did when he got home that day was wash a bag full of clothes some of which may have been bloody, a friend later relayed to investigators. July 31, 2013 / 9:40 PM MDAA is an independent state agency whose mission is to support the eleven elected Massachusetts District Attorneys and their staff, including approximately 785 prosecutors and 260 victim-witness advocates. 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. Smika was eventually let out of custody, and stayed around the area for a couple years. The Moving can be an exciting experience. 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. but it can also be stressful. Over the years, Hayes has worked as a patrol officer, detective, sergeant, commander, and deputy chief. With the FBIs help, they established new forensic and ballistic evidence linking Smika to the murder. For a list of Offices and access to their websites, either select "Directory of District Attorney Offices" or select a location on the map. IE 11 is not supported. Judicial Circuit County(ies) Prosecuting Attorney 1st Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, St. Francis, Woodruff: Todd Murray Thayne Smika, now 54, is being sought in 1983 murder of 22-year-old Sid Wells; . Smika moved to Denver then eventually left for California. Smika had spent his younger days in North Platte, Nebraska and Akron, Colorado before eventually making his way to Boulder. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. 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. $300 monthly. stream Thayne Smika is wanted for the 1983 slaying of his roommate, who was dating Robert Redford's daughter at the time. 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. THAYNE ALAN SMIKA . 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. His roommate Thayne Smika, who was reportedly due to pay rent that day, was soon named as the number one suspect for the shocking murder. Their elections are non-partisan. But more tips started rolling in. 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. Smika left the area and in 1986, his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, CA. Whether movers in Fort Collins are helping you Windows are often overlooked when designing or purchasing home decor. 16 0 obj You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. He didnt deserve being murdered.. <> Sid didnt learn until later that Shauna was the daughter of actor Robert Redford. . June Menger, who is suffering from a terminal illness, is hoping to see Smika brought to justice for the murder charges against her son. Shauna quit college. endobj One friend said shed never known him to have had a job. 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. The Wells family owned the condo and had bought it for their children to use while in college. 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. One man who lived across the street from Spanish Towers told detectives he was certain hed seen Smika walking quickly and strangely across the parking lot with something long and stiff shoved up his sleeve. Thayne Smika is wanted for first-degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. . We are continually working to identify anyone who may be in contact with Thayne Smika, police spokeswoman Kim Kobel said. The state or Arizona has until January 4, 2019, to respond. 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. Its disturbing on so many levels.. Sid Wells, a 22-year old journalism student at the University of Colorado, was looking for someone to rent a room to. Or, keep up-to-date by following Denver7 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The case, however, was never solved. He should be considered armed and dangerous. upperclassman or graduate student. Hayes is the 2022-2023 President of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. upperclassman or graduate student. /StructTreeRoot 5 0 R Got a tip? 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 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. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . Thank you! . In Sids obituary, Shauna was listed as survivor, girlfriend and best friend. Thayne Smika, a 24-year old college dropout, answered the ad. Currently Reading. A grand jury was derailed by Hunter two years later, according to the Camera. The rent was due that day. ", Additional Information From Boulder Police. Detective Tom Dowd may be reached at 303-441-3385. However, Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time, Alex Hunter, declined to take the case. Report inappropriate content . Following the murder, Shauna went on to marry university professor Eric Schlosser, the best-selling author of Fast Food Nation. Walking anywhere including the Red Light District is fine. 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. Deputy District Attorney Lesli S. Boese Ted S. Szczupakiewicz Michael D. Thurston. 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. 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. Arkansas's prosecutors are known as Prosecuting Attorneys. In 2011, the. Photo from the Boulder Daily Camera Spring 2011 Campus News Thayne Smika has been missing since 1986 after his mother posted a bond for the 1983 murder of his roommate Sid Wells. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Prosecutors at the time of the killing lacked the evidence techniques that have since allowed detectives to link shotgun pellets recovered from Wells' body to shells found at the Smika family residence in Akron, Menger said. The evidence pointed to Thayne," June said. Allegedly Arrested For Murder, Debra Jeter Death And Daughter Kiersten Jeter Netflix Documentary Case Dateline, Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? 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. He had a warrant for his arrest for the charge of Forgery and he was also the suspect in a 1983 Boulder, CO Homicide. 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. Wells and Redford's daughter Shauna, then 22 years old, were both students at the University of Colorado and lived in the same building. Police released his 1983 mugshot and an age-progressed image of what he might look like today. 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. 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. The district attorney's office in Boulder County . /Metadata 6 0 R>> The suspect, roommate Thayne Smika, has been on the run since 1986 over theft charges. 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. Smika was arrested for the homicide in 1983, however the DA at the time declined prosecution and Smika disappeared in 1986. The Smika family name was found in the USA in 1920. 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. "The police department felt that way, his friends and roommates felt that way. Bond was set for $5 million in that case, the highest in Boulder history, said Hayes who believes Smika is living under an alias. He went on to work in law enforcement and as a special agent, and has since founded the Families of Colorado Murder Victims and Missing Persons (FOHVAMP), which helps families of victims in unsolved murder and missing persons crimes seek help in closing their cases. Dave Hayes was a rookie detective in the Boulder Police Department when Sid Wells was killed. Call 1-866-THE-HUNT (In Mexico: 0188000990546) or click here. The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika since 1986 or even called him by that name. A Warner Bros. Im thinking, no, thats not real; thats not right. /Outlines 4 0 R Save. Tonight, In Pursuit with John Walsh takes a look at both men and the allegations against them. People had to be evacuated from the fires path. Furnished living room. They can do all they want, but I have had no contact with him.. 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. 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. She believes Smika has had some very good cover for 30 years and has also had help staying off the grid. Smika concocted an elaborate plan in which he said he planned to stake out their apartment and wait for the alleged thief to come in and steal the rest of the drugs. 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. * DNA Update -- History Repeats Itself: Twice now Boulder District Attorneys have misled the public in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case. She said Redford initially decided not to attend the funeral, worried it would become a media circus. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . It was January nearly 18 years after a brown-eyed 5-year-old girl named Aleszandra "Alie" Berrelez vanished from the courtyard outside her Englewood apartment, sparking a four-day hunt that ended. Then they learned that prosecutors had declined to charge Smika with the killing, saying there wasnt enough evidence. 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. 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. When asked by the Camera on Wednesday whether she knows where her son is, she said, Would I tell you?. "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. Hayes never gave up on getting justice for the Wells family and, in 1997, Boulder police reopened the case. 2 0 obj He is passionate about what he calls constitutional policing. Most of what we do is not police work, it is community safety. Sidney Wells Murder And Case Update. She wants to find Thayne Smika and she wants to ask him, Why?. Redford said in 1997 that Wells' murder still haunted him. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. After Boulder police gathered additional evidence in the case in December 2012, a judge issued an arrest warrant for Smika. Sids older brother, Sam, found his body. By A broken hearted Shauna later left the university. , updated 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. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. 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. He also had a fondness for cocaine, according to police interviews with friends, a habit he could not afford. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. It kind of rips you to the core, Robert said. In August 1983, Hunter was publicly criticized for his failure to file charges against Thayne Smika in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Sid Wells. 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. endobj Thanyne Smika (CBS/KCNC) CBS/KCNC Smika was arrested in the killing two months later but wasn't charged. Smika, who was often late with rent, was supposed to pay Wells the day he was killed, investigators said. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Wells' brother found his body August 1, 1983, in Wells' Spanish Towers condominium. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. 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. However, then-Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to file charges, and Smika moved away in 1986. . His sister, Tava Smika, currently lives in Vaughn, MT. Police and prosecutors know their suspect and have a warrant out for his arrest. She said she isn't bitter about the delays in getting a murder warrant. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. endstream 2. 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. . $300 monthly. Why? he wonders. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, California. Police believe Thayne Smika could be hiding in Mexico or California under an assumed identity. Thayne Smika Missing Thayne Smika Follow Thayne's Case Smika moved out of his Denver, CO home in 1986.
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