One of the doctors in his fathers practice, Zdenka Kalendovsky, a neurologist who had immigrated from Czechoslovakia, was shot to death in the clinics parking lot. An autopsy showed Wells was shot execution-style at point-blank range in the back of the head with a 20-gauge shotgun. She said Redford initially decided not to attend the funeral, worried it would become a media circus. Detectives couldnt be reached Wednesday to comment on whether they obtained any leads from the family members phones. Sid Wells in 1983 (credit: Boulder Police Department). Thayne Smika is wanted for first-degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. They felt like he was a good candidate for a roommate, the brothers mother June Menger recalled. Thank you! The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika - or called him by that name, at least - since 1986. People had to be evacuated from the fires path. 15 0 obj 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. 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. For nearly five decades as a police officer, Hayes has been on the helping side in situations of crisis and tragedy. Burkhalter, who had become a homicide detective, thought that the suspect might be a former patient at the clinic. John Walsh is looking for a man suspected of killing his roommate and has been on the run since 1986. 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. After Boulder police gathered additional evidence in the case in December 2012, a judge issued an arrest warrant for Smika. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Smika was a leading suspect when the coroner declared the death to be a homicide. He has not been seen since. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. Allegedly Arrested For Murder, Danny Pudi And Wife Bridget Showalter Pudi Relationship With Two Children. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. 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. But Sid was rarely home, according to friends, and was often with Shauna when he wasnt working or at school. Its something she and her family have never gotten over. Darlene Smika the mother of the missing suspect, who vanished in 1986 refused to speak with detectives, police reported. However, then-Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to file charges, and Smika moved away in 1986. . Smika's abandoned car was discovered in California in 1986. Stories worth watching 16 videos. Last Name: Smika. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, California. Thayne Alan Smika is wanted for a murder which occurred on August 1, 1983. . endstream She grieved in ways that I cant even imagine, Menger said. Before arriving in Boulder, Smika had lived in North Platte, Nebraska, and Akron, Colorado, throughout his formative years. Last seen alive: October 01, 1986. We couldn't understand why they let him go.". 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. 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. I dont know why the grand jury was handled the way it was. Watch Liz Gelardi and James Dougherty's video story in the player below or by clicking here. But he got home early, around 11:45 a.m. Wells and Redford's daughter Shauna, then 22 years old, were both students at the University of Colorado and lived in the same building. 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. Smika says he told Sid about the trip the night before. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Sid and his brother needed a roommate and settled on Smika, but they werent close friends. Robert Redford stopped production of his film The Natural so he and his family could attend Sids funeral. 2023 Cable News Network. But in 2009, Stan Garnett took over as district attorney, with a newfound interest in the case. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers. As a Catholic kid from a large family in South Denver, Hayes fell in love with Estes Park during summers at Camp St. Malo. Sid was killed by a single gunshot wound to the back of the head from a .20-gauge shotgun shell shot at a near-horizontal, but slightly downward trajectory, the coroners office found, deeming Sids death a homicide. I dont know why anybody would enter into an agreement like that. The case was presented to a grand jury but the District Attorney at the time, Alex Hunter, did not believe he had enough evidence to try Smika and released him from custody. Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smika surname lived. He was in debt, ducking out on bills and hiding from authorities, and was said to be sloppy, usually unemployed, moody, and easily set off by those who knew him. Directory of District Attorney Offices. According to the affidavit, Boulder police received the requested information from the phone companies on Feb. 24. 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There was just no sign of life whatsoever, Wells said. I hope its solved, he said. What happened over the next several hours remains unclear, but by noon, Sid was dead. www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Another connection with Burkhalter came in 1977. In 2010, the Boulder County district attorney's office agreed to review the case and approved an arrest affidavit for Smika. I have no doubt in my mind that that shotgun was responsible for Sids death, Neitzel said. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. 2. The guy who you believe has done it has never been brought to justice, Robert said. Arkansas's prosecutors are known as Prosecuting Attorneys. 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. He said it had turned into his nightmare too, she said. 1 0 obj Shauna showed up a few minutes later. Then-District Attorney Alex Hunter made a deal with Smika's. The Moving can be an exciting experience. The couple have two children, a boy and a girl. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. But authorities could not find him. The police arrested Smika in connection with the killing two months after it occurred, on Aug . 01:37 - Source: CNN. His vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA in 1986. Police suspected his roommate, Thayne Smika, and arrested him. 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. He is a people person and very supportive of his officers. 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. She was devastated, June Menger recalled. Thayne Smika Warrant. upperclassman or graduate student. Sid Wells, a 22-year old journalism student at the University of Colorado, was looking for someone to rent a room to. Trujillo said if Smika is still alive, he's confident he'll eventually be caught and prosecuted and the case will finally be solved. 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. 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. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. Thayne Alan Smika, photo taken in 1983, courtesy of fbi.gov Smika was known around town as a college dropout and drifter. Smika told the detectives that a possible suspect was Craig Evans, a man Smika said had been stealing cocaine from the victim. 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. Marshals photo. After a cold case investigation in December 2010 an arrest warrant for the murder was issued. Level Contributor . endobj How in the world could this possibly happen? Subscribe www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Police released his 1983 mugshot and an age-progressed image of what he might look like today. Smika would be off scot-free for the time being, which infuriated the still-grieving Wells family. BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - 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' 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. Police focused their attention on Thayne Smika and, when forensic evidence confirmed their suspicions, they arrested him. Although he says he doesnt know what went into Hunters decision or why the former DA decided to reach the agreement with Smika, he says hes still left with questions. Police and the family believe he changed his name and disappeared. 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. The police said that new evidence and advances in forensic technology had convinced them to refocus on the only suspect ever named, Thayne Alan Smika , now . A grand jury was derailed by Hunter two years later, according to the Camera. "It's past time for justice for Sid Wells and his family," Deputy Chief Dave Hayes said. 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. 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. 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. An advocate of mental health co-responders working alongside police officers, Hayes said, We want to be the people that people in the community call when they have a problem., Dave is just a natural, said Hayes long-time mentor, Burkhalter. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The trail has been frozen, but Boulder police said they haven't given up. Investigators wasted no time paying a visit to Smika in Akron. 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. Authorities said Smika may be working in the real estate or financial industry. 'The Hunt': Thayne Smika . Thayne Smika, a 24-year old college dropout, answered the ad. Wells' mother June Menger says Redford is like a daughter-in-law to her, even though she never saw her son married. In 2011, the. - DNA Not from a Single Intruder: In 2016 Boulder's Daily Camera and Denver's 9News obtained the crime scene DNA report and their undisputed analysis found that in two of the three DNA specimens, the "a 3rd person's . Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. However, they are crucial to any rooms look and feel. 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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. "Smika's relatives have not provided any helpful information to the Boulder Police Department," police spokesperson Kim Kobel said in a statement. 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. Smika told investigators he slept for a couple of hours that morning before he left to Akron at either 10 or 11 a.m. to visit his mother and sister, do laundry and get his hair cut and permed. Smika's bail was set at $5million after the warrant was issued. . First published on July 31, 2013 / 9:40 PM. They also found a box of shells with three missing. Sid really seemed like he was a victim that should never have been. 348 For a list of Offices and access to their websites, either select "Directory of District Attorney Offices" or select a location on the map. When Wells was assassinated, he had just started his final year at the University of Colorado and was 22 years old. . Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, California. Thayne, WY Attorney (307) 883-9972 Duke University School of Law University of Wyoming California, Wyoming and U.S. Supreme Court Wyoming State Bar and Member, State Bar of California Another man who lived next door to the Wells brothers told investigators that hed heard a loud bang, similar to a gunshot, at the time the coroner determined Sid had died. Smika's potential motivation would have been because she owed Wells $300 in rent that day. . Im thinking, no, thats not real; thats not right. a state arrest warrant was issued for Smika by the County District Court, Boulder County, Colorado, for first degree . Police ask anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact them. 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. $300 monthly. He also had some small-time involvement in the use and sale of cocaine, according to police documents. 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. Smika was chosen by Sid and his brother as a roommate even though they weren't particularly close. Police focused their attention on Thayne Smika and, when forensic evidence confirmed their suspicions, they arrested him. In 2010, armed with more sophisticated forensic and ballistic evidence, he says he was once again able to pinpoint Thayne Smika as the likely killer. Smikas friends and acquaintances thought Smika to be messy, unkempt and temperamental, according to the court documents. Honorary U.S. Im 100 percent. The whole thing was extremely frustrating..
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. It kind of rips you to the core, Robert said. 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. 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. Smika, who was also once an AMW web-exclusive, will be the first ever fugitive from 'The Hunt' to get an In Pursuit profile as well. One friend said shed never known him to have had a job. Boulder police release new sketches of Smika. He speaks Spanish and has been known to use the alias, "Thaymes Micah." The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture and conviction. In 1986 his abandoned car, a Dodge Aries, was found in Beverly Hills wiped clean of prints. 7 0 obj 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. Police and prosecutors know their suspect and have a warrant out for his arrest. 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. Missing. Boulder Deputy Police Chief Dave Hayes, one of the first detectives to investigate the case, said Smika may have become assimilated into a community and he hopes new coverage of the case will lead a neighbor or a relative to step forward. Hayes father was a Denver physician who became ill and had to step back from his medical practice. A Warner Bros. , updated To that end, investigators requested and received a court order earlier this year to obtain records related to the phones belonging to six of Smikas family members including the phone numbers of calls dialed and received, as well as physical addresses, longitude and latitude, and GPS coordinates of cell towers used in those calls. ", Additional Information From Boulder Police. Sam Wells had gone on an overnight camping trip and was set to return around 1:30 p.m. Also Read: Debra Jeter Death And Daughter Kiersten Jeter Netflix Documentary Case Dateline. Boulder police believe he may have a new identity and he may be working as a bookkeeper or accountant. College dropout and drifter they arrested him run since 1986 death, Neitzel said a thayne smika district attorney 100,000 bond and... Been because she owed Wells $ 300 in rent that day ways that i cant imagine. Menger recalled cant even imagine, Menger said hours remains unclear, but noon. 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