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 Missing Thayne Smika Follow Thayne's Case Smika moved out of his Denver, CO home in 1986. 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. It's like a partially opened door with a very dark room behind it, he said. Smikas friends and acquaintances thought Smika to be messy, unkempt and temperamental, according to the court documents. The door was unlocked, as it typically was. Im 100 percent. It's an unsolved mystery involving a beautiful college town, a picture-perfect young couple and even a movie star. but it can also be stressful. 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, 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. 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. Hayes never gave up on getting justice for the Wells family and, in 1997, Boulder police reopened the case. Wells was dating the daughter of Robert Redford, Shauna Redford, at the time of the shooting. 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. A broken hearted Shauna later left the university. Marshals photo. The couple have two children, a boy and a girl. . Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. 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 . Feb 24, 2023, 3:22 PM. [But Im] optimistic that something is going to happen.. 11 reviews. My brother is dead, and Im angry that the system didnt work better then. 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. (Information retrieved from NamUs.g. The DA's office "did not think there was enough evidence to file charges"., prompting criticism of Hunter from the victim's grieving mother. If Thayne was innocent, she says, he would want to clear his name and live a normal life rather than hide out., For June, Sids death is as fresh as if it just happened. Its something she and her family have never gotten over. I dont know why anybody would enter into an agreement like that. A. Greg An additional 149 homes and 30 other buildings were also damaged. He said it had turned into his nightmare too, she said. Shauna woke up that morning and left for work just before 11 a.m. She woke up Sid, reminding him that he was to have lunch with his mother at noon. endobj Police focused their attention on Thayne Smika and, when forensic evidence confirmed their suspicions, they arrested him. 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. 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. Smika's potential motivation would have been because she owed Wells $300 in rent that day. 15 0 obj According to the court filings, Smika's friends and acquaintances described him as dirty, messy, and volatile. Another connection with Burkhalter came in 1977. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much News. 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CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. endobj 1, 1983, but the district attorney determined that there was not enough evidence to prosecute. Thayne Alan Smika, photo taken in 1983, courtesy of fbi.gov Smika was known around town as a college dropout and drifter. . Wells was dating Shauna Jean Redford, the daughter of actor Robert Redford, and this brought attention to the case on a global scale. 1 0 obj The story made headlines across Boulder County when Smika was tabbed as a suspect, though a friend was quoted in the paper as saying hed said the other man whom Smika had allegedly stolen the drugs and money from was to blame. One friend said shed never known him to have had a job. Police and the family believe he changed his name and disappeared. 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. Following his release from detention, they claimed it's conceivable Thayne spent a significant amount of time living in Yelapa, Mexico. Sids mom could not believe it. One of the most high-profile murders in Colorado's history remains unsolved after nearly 34 years, but police and prosecutors know who their suspect is and have an active warrant for his arrest. Call 1-866-THE-HUNT (In Mexico: 0188000990546) or click here. On August 1, 1983, just before Sid began his senior year, he died from a single 20-gauge shotgun wound to the back of the head. 'The Hunt': Thayne Smika . Investigators are still looking for Thayne Smika and are asking anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact . Some of us have expressed not criticism but surprise Smika is getting another airing considering he's a cold case the previous most recent John Walsh show already did (as opposed to a new cold case and/or unused . Furnished living room. 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. His sister, Tava Smika, currently lives in Vaughn, MT. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the past three years, Wells had been dating Shauna Redford, daughter of actor Robert Redford, and she had seen him just a few hours before he was killed. 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. The evidence pointed to Thayne," June said. Smika told the detectives that a possible suspect was Craig Evans, a man Smika said had been stealing cocaine from the victim. 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. Smika stayed up until around 6:30 a.m. before he was seen by a neighbor moving a trash can outside and back inside, locking the apartment door and falling asleep. She believes Smika has had some very good cover for 30 years and has also had help staying off the grid. Thayne Smika, who is believed to be living under an assumed identity, would be 54 now. His vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA in 1986. <> We couldn't understand why they let him go.". 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. 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 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. . Link Copied! People had to be evacuated from the fires path. He also had a fondness for cocaine, according to police interviews with friends, a habit he could not afford. I have no doubt in my mind that that shotgun was responsible for Sids death, Neitzel said. The suspect, roommate Thayne Smika, has been on the run since 1986 over theft charges. 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. [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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Massachusetts District Attorneys Association (MDAA) Massachusetts District Attorneys Association. 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. at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Bond was set for $5 million in that case, the highest in Boulder history, said Hayes who believes Smika is living under an alias. district attorney noun Synonyms of district attorney : the prosecuting officer of a judicial district Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web His intent is to reveal what happened within the district attorney 's office during his year there. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. His vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA in 1986. 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 For a list of Offices and access to their websites, either select "Directory of District Attorney Offices" or select a location on the map. He started reviewing the case, its evidence and how it had progressed through the new analyses. To date, the trail has been cold, but Boulder police said they have not given up. But Sid and a friend confronted him about the missing drugs, andSmika blamed their disappearance on another man. What Happened To Nia From Real World Portland? I have not been in touch with him, and I have no intentions of trying to do so. Report inappropriate content . Circumstances: Smika moved out of his Denver, CO home in 1986. When asked by the Camera on Wednesday whether she knows where her son is, she said, Would I tell you?. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. In 1920 there were 2 Smika families living in Oklahoma. 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. Wells' mother June Menger says Redford is like a daughter-in-law to her, even though she never saw her son married. Thayne Smika is wanted for first-degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. , updated Boulder police are asking for help finding Smika, suspected of killing Sid Wells, a 22-year-old. When Wells was assassinated, he had just started his final year at the University of Colorado and was 22 years old. 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. So thats when we started thinking maybe Thayne isnt so innocent.. They said it's possible he lived in Yelapa, Mexico for many years after he was released from custody. For his first date with Shauna Redford, the two went to an ROTC dance, the site Daily Camera reported. The comments below have not been moderated, By 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. 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 . By 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. $300 monthly. 16 0 obj Police ask anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact them. 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. Thayne Smika was accused of killing his roommate Sid Wells in August 1983, and the case hasn't been solved yet. 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. Sidney Wells Murder And Case Update. Currently Reading. He had a warrant for his arrest for the charge of Forgery and he was also the suspect in a 1983 Boulder, CO Homicide. But I hope its solved with the criminal who did it, not with my son being convicted of something he didnt do.. Sid Wells in 1983 (credit: Boulder Police Department). 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. July 31, 2013 / 9:40 PM Thayne Smika is wanted for the 1983 slaying of his roommate, who was dating Robert Redford's daughter at the time. www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Hayes home was one that was turned to ash. 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. Dave Hayes was a rookie detective in the Boulder Police Department when Sid Wells was killed. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Sids mother, June Menger, describes her youngest son as a good-looking, vivacious, young man who was interning at a local television station and wanted to fly jets for the U.S. Navy. I've read to stay away from the Red Light Dist at night due to all of the drunken tourists (of . The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika - or called him by that name, at least - since 1986. The first grand jury did not issue an indictment for murder believed to be a result of misconduct by the district attorney. 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. 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. Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines. But part of his story didnt add up from the beginning: His mother was away on a trip to Fort Collins all week. Did you encounter any technical issues? He is a people person and very supportive of his officers. Directory of District Attorney Offices. Boulder police release new sketches of Smika. 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. They have not been in touch with him, and volatile evidence and how it progressed... 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