Its something I would like to see before Im gone, Neitzel said. Smika was never seen again. Thayne Alan Smika, photo taken in 1983, courtesy of fbi.gov Smika was known around town as a college dropout and drifter. Link Copied! I have not been in touch with him, and I have no intentions of trying to do so. Wells was found shot to death in his Boulder apartment on Aug. 3, 1983. 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 '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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. 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. "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 . 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. 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. He also had some small-time involvement in the use and sale of cocaine, according to police documents. After police ruled his brother out as a suspect, they began to focus on Smika. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. I hope its solved, he said. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, California. Thayne Smika is wanted for the 1983 slaying of his roommate, who was dating Robert Redford's daughter at the time. Missing. The couple have two children, a boy and a girl. but it can also be stressful. Robert Redford stopped production of his film The Natural so he and his family could attend Sids funeral. . It all started with this classified ad in the Boulder Daily Camera, January, 1983. . Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers. There was blood spatter underneath the note, which would mean the note was written after the death, Neitzel said. 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. Level Contributor . stream Last seen alive: October 01, 1986. 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. Smika says he told Sid about the trip the night before. Thayne Smika Warrant. Call 1-866-THE-HUNT (In Mexico: 0188000990546) or click here. % 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. For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings. For nearly five decades as a police officer, Hayes has been on the helping side in situations of crisis and tragedy. Wells was dating the daughter of Robert Redford, Shauna Redford, at the time of the shooting. In Sids obituary, Shauna was listed as survivor, girlfriend and best friend. 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. For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings.Si. 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. However, Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time, Alex Hunter, declined to take the case. The Wells family owned the condo and had bought it for their children to use while in college. 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. Wells and Redford's daughter Shauna, then 22 years old, were both students at the University of Colorado and lived in the same building. It didnt make sense to me when I first heard about it, Garnett said. He loved the way her hair fell over her eyes. Im still hopeful. 348 Police in 2011 issued a first-degree-murder arrest warrant for Thayne Smika, 54, . With the FBIs help, they established new forensic and ballistic evidence linking Smika to the murder. 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. 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. 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. (Information retrieved from NamUs.g. 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. I've read to stay away from the Red Light Dist at night due to all of the drunken tourists (of . The comments below have not been moderated, By Hayes home was one that was turned to ash. 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. The rent was due that day. Whether movers in Fort Collins are helping you Windows are often overlooked when designing or purchasing home decor. But he wouldnt know that until later that evening. Before arriving in Boulder, Smika had lived in North Platte, Nebraska, and Akron, Colorado, throughout his formative years. 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. 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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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 . appreciated. A broken hearted Shauna later left the university. During his boyhood, Hayes thought about becoming a priest, but an interaction with a Denver police officer, R. James Burkhalter, helped him decide what he wanted to be. 15 0 obj Sid didnt learn until later that Shauna was the daughter of actor Robert Redford. 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 His vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA in 1986. 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 was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Thayne Smika, a 24-year old college dropout, answered the ad. Smika moved to Denver then eventually left for California. 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. Thayne'scloset included a.20-gauge shotgun, cartridges, a box of shells, three shells of which were missing. 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. Detectives couldnt be reached Wednesday to comment on whether they obtained any leads from the family members phones. Lakewood, Ohio. What Happened To Nia From Real World Portland? 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