He may also be living in California, the FBI said. The whole thing was extremely frustrating.. Jihad Ramadan is wanted by U.S. LinnyT. 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. 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. He is a people person and very supportive of his officers. Darryl Smika said he thinks authorities are wasting their time and money looking for his son. Subscribe % For his first date with Shauna Redford, the two went to an ROTC dance, the site Daily Camera reported. . The FBI is currently offering a reward of $10,000 for information that results in Smika's capture and conviction. Im thinking, no, thats not real; thats not right. 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. Shauna quit college. 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. He should be considered armed and dangerous. 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 Wells, who was 22 at the time, was found shot to death in his condo in August of 1983. With the Marshall Fire, he experienced being a victim, something he says has given him an increased sense of empathy in working with others. 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. In 2010, the Boulder County district attorney's office agreed to review the case and approved an arrest affidavit for Smika. 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. For nearly five decades as a police officer, Hayes has been on the helping side in situations of crisis and tragedy. Its disturbing on so many levels.. Johnson won the primary and then was elected in November in an uncontested race. 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. /Metadata 6 0 R>> Oklahoma had the highest population of Smika families in 1920. DENVER In August 1983, Sid Wells was 22 years old and about to enter his senior year at CU Boulder with dreams of becoming a broadcast journalist. 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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Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. Thayne Smika, now 54, is being sought in 1983 murder of 22-year-old Sid Wells; . Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. 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. 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. . It's time for justice, said Hayes, who has remained in touch with Wells' family over the last three decades. [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. However, they are crucial to any rooms look and feel. 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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. In Sids obituary, Shauna was listed as survivor, girlfriend and best friend. $300 monthly. Trujillo said if Smika is still alive, he's confident he'll eventually be caught and prosecuted and the case will finally be solved. The state or Arizona has until January 4, 2019, to respond. The documents detail several personal timelines from people interviewed by detectives that investigators say show Smika was his killer. Allegedly Arrested For Murder, Danny Pudi And Wife Bridget Showalter Pudi Relationship With Two Children. Now it comes down to finding a man who hasnt been seen or identified in 31 years. A nearby chair had been overturned, and the coffee table was moved aside. District Attorney Susan L. Opper. Massachusetts District Attorneys Association (MDAA) Massachusetts District Attorneys Association. This story was originally reported August 10, 2014. 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. The former DA, Hunter, served as the Boulder County District Attorney from 1973 to 2001, when Mary Lacy became head of the office. Their elections are non-partisan. and %PDF-1.7 But he came anyway because of his close friendship with Wells. When asked by the Camera on Wednesday whether she knows where her son is, she said, Would I tell you?. She wants to find Thayne Smika and she wants to ask him, Why?. But as time passed, Sid began having trouble collecting the rent. 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. For a list of Offices and access to their websites, either select "Directory of District Attorney Offices" or select a location on the map. An aspiring journalist, Wells also was part of the universitys Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. Call 1-866-THE-HUNT (In Mexico: 0188000990546) or click here. But I hope its solved with the criminal who did it, not with my son being convicted of something he didnt do.. Prefer C.U. Smika's bail was set at $5million after the warrant was issued. 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,. 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. 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. Wells was dating the daughter of Robert Redford, Shauna Redford, at the time of the shooting. She said Robert Redford and her son were friends, and they went jogging and skiing together. Sam Wells had gone on an overnight camping trip and was set to return around 1:30 p.m. "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. 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. Smika had spent his younger days in North Platte, Nebraska and Akron, Colorado before eventually making his way to Boulder. "It's past time for justice for Sid Wells and his family," Deputy Chief Dave Hayes said. Smikas friends and acquaintances thought Smika to be messy, unkempt and temperamental, according to the court documents. 16 0 obj 348 When Wells was assassinated, he had just started his final year at the University of Colorado and was 22 years old. He asked her to be his date to the Navy ROTC ball, and from that point on, the two were inseparable. But, after Smika moved in, they realized he wasnt very sociable and, Menger said, I think he was having trouble coming up with the rent money.. 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. First published on July 31, 2013 / 9:40 PM. His vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA in 1986. 4 helpful votes. The DA's office "did not think there was enough evidence to file charges"., prompting criticism of Hunter from the victim's grieving mother. Police focused their attention on Thayne Smika and, when forensic evidence confirmed their suspicions, they arrested him. 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. Dave Hayes was a rookie detective in the Boulder Police Department when Sid Wells was killed. In December 2012, a judge signed an arrest warrant for Smika after Boulder police developed more evidence in the case. Sids mom could not believe it. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. Furnished living room. There was blood spatter underneath the note, which would mean the note was written after the death, Neitzel said. 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. at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. But as long as theyre not giving up, we have hope.. 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. Investigators wasted no time paying a visit to Smika in Akron. endobj A grand jury failed to indict him, and two previous Boulder County district. 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. Marshals in connection with a 2005 stabbing and Thayne Smika is wanted by the FBI for murder. Thayne Smika Missing Thayne Smika Follow Thayne's Case Smika moved out of his Denver, CO home in 1986. According to Detective Hayes, This is not a whodunit, but rather a 'where is he?'. They also found a box of shells with three missing. The case went cold and remained closed for years until Boulder police Deputy Chief David Hayes and Detective Melissa Kampf reopened it in 1997 when a new witness offered information about Smikas actions around the time of the homicide. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Allegedly Arrested For Murder, Debra Jeter Death And Daughter Kiersten Jeter Netflix Documentary Case Dateline, Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? 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. [But Im] optimistic that something is going to happen.. endobj 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. And though Robert and his remaining family members say they still continue to feel Sids loss and it is sometimes a challenge to find hope, he says hes optimistic that Smika will be found at brought to justice. Smika left the area and in 1986, his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, CA. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. 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. 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. (Information retrieved from NamUs.g. 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. Level Contributor . After a cold case investigation in December 2010 an arrest warrant for the murder was issued. 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. In 2011, the. For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. 2023 Cable News Network. She was devastated, June Menger recalled. 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. Following the murder, Shauna went on to marry university professor Eric Schlosser, the best-selling author of Fast Food Nation. 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. He also had some small-time involvement in the use and sale of cocaine, according to police documents. Detectives found a .20-gauge shotgun and several cartridges in his closet in Akron, and took those into evidence. Lakewood, Ohio. Stories worth watching 16 videos. 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