. 11 reviews. The first grand jury did not issue an indictment for murder believed to be a result of misconduct by the district attorney. xQO0+>kqkBH&Bl*.t07;=F.B!`S@;0`.E:#ffl@mlSYVbY,b-I-WB"kJQ(pC,_Wz(z^=zl- B2=y-]B7mH785~Yk9._4]WH_B1J5} q mr7F0A{cGcN'hRfg\aX+3ce +U*G~ = But I hope its solved with the criminal who did it, not with my son being convicted of something he didnt do.. 2. Smika would be off scot-free for the time being, which infuriated the still-grieving Wells family. District Attorney Susan L. Opper. The whole thing was extremely frustrating.. Deputy District Attorney Lesli S. Boese Ted S. Szczupakiewicz Michael D. Thurston. That same year Hayes joined the Louisville Police Department at the age of 20. Smikas friends and acquaintances thought Smika to be messy, unkempt and temperamental, according to the court documents. Following the murder, Shauna went on to marry university professor Eric Schlosser, the best-selling author of Fast Food Nation. 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. Pic Credit: U.S. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . Police in 2011 issued a first-degree-murder arrest warrant for Thayne Smika, 54, . 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. 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. In December 2012, a judge signed an arrest warrant for Smika after Boulder police developed more evidence in the case. Recent information indicates he may be living near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, Calif. Wells'. Report inappropriate content . 1, 1983, but the district attorney determined that there was not enough evidence to prosecute. According to the affidavit, Boulder police received the requested information from the phone companies on Feb. 24. * DNA Update -- History Repeats Itself: Twice now Boulder District Attorneys have misled the public in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case. It's time for justice, said Hayes, who has remained in touch with Wells' family over the last three decades. Dave Hayes was a rookie detective in the Boulder Police Department when Sid Wells was killed. Sam Wells had gone on an overnight camping trip and was set to return around 1:30 p.m. 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. Investigators are still looking for Thayne Smika and are asking anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact . Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. Smika moved to Denver then eventually left for California. Allegedly Arrested For Murder, Danny Pudi And Wife Bridget Showalter Pudi Relationship With Two Children. A. Greg 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.. She grieved in ways that I cant even imagine, Menger said. Its disturbing on so many levels.. endobj The district attorney's office in Boulder County . Thayne Smika is accused of fatally shooting his roommate in the back of the head on August 1, 1983, in their Spanish Towers apartment after Sid Wells demanded Smika pay back his rent. This process is automatic. Thayne Smika Warrant. 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. If you have information about Thayne Smika or his whereabouts contact Detective Jeremy Frenzen at 303-441-1890 [email protected]. How in the world could this possibly happen? He also had a fondness for cocaine, according to police interviews with friends, a habit he could not afford. 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. My dad helped review medical charts to screen for possible suspects, said Hayes. Trujillo said if Smika is still alive, he's confident he'll eventually be caught and prosecuted and the case will finally be solved. A maid corroborated hearing a similar noise around the same time. According to Detective Hayes, This is not a whodunit, but rather a 'where is he?'. In 2011, the Boulder County District Attorneys office approved an arrest warrant for Smika on first-degree murder but his whereabouts are unknown. Sid, Shauna and a friend eventually ended up back at Sid and Smikas apartment, and they drank and used cocaine, according to the documents. [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. But he was perhaps best-known around town in 1983 for being the guy who was dating Robert Redfords daughter, Shauna, who was also a student at CU at the time. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Another connection with Burkhalter came in 1977. Smika's family says the last time they heard from him was in 1986, when he said he was leaving town. Or, keep up-to-date on the latest news and weather with the Denver7 apps for iPhone/iPads, Android and Kindle. It is his decision to solve this problem his way, and I have honored it.. Johnson won the primary and then was elected in November in an uncontested race. New DA furthers investigation, obtains new arrest warrant. Smika's bail was set at $5million after the warrant was issued. 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. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . Police believe Thayne Smika could be hiding in Mexico or California under an assumed identity. Marshal Walsh shines a light on the current search for Jihad Ramadan, who is . Source: CNN. 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. 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. The trail has been frozen, but Boulder police said they haven't given up. Thank you! After Boulder police gathered additional evidence in a case in December 2012, a judge issued an arrest warrant for Smika. He had a warrant for his arrest for the charge of Forgery and he was also the suspect in a 1983 Boulder, CO Homicide. Police ask anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact them. 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. He immediately called police, his shock apparent in the 911 recording. a state arrest warrant was issued for Smika by the County District Court, Boulder County, Colorado, for first degree . A photo that accompanied a 1983 Associated Press article about Wells funeral showed the weeping young woman being comforted by her father on their way to the service. A broken hearted Shauna later left the university. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. $300 monthly. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The grand jury was the biggest shock for my family and the most difficult thing to deal with, said Robert Wells, Sids older brother. <> I dont know why anyone would ever agree ahead of time not to respect the decision that a grand jury is going to return.. What Happened To Nia From Real World Portland? After years of consulting with the manufacturer of the shotgun shells used in Sids murder and the ones found in Smikas closet in Akron, investigators were eventually able to learn that the three shells were uniquely old when they were used, had all been loaded into Smikas shotgun, and all had the same chemical makeup. It all started with this classified ad in the Boulder Daily Camera, January, 1983. His sister, Tava Smika, currently lives in Vaughn, MT. Smika's abandoned car was discovered in California in 1986. 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. 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. 100 posts. Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smika surname lived. 16 0 obj Boulder police believe he may have a new identity and he may be working as a bookkeeper or accountant. You all made up your own stories.. Watch Liz Gelardi and James Dougherty's video story in the player below or by clicking here. Sid Wells, a 22-year old journalism student at the University of Colorado, was looking for someone to rent a room to. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Arkansas's prosecutors are known as Prosecuting Attorneys. Thayne'scloset included a.20-gauge shotgun, cartridges, a box of shells, three shells of which were missing. ;}v;LZ%^(R(;_/"-Rqnv};!;.cs|CGA6. But as long as theyre not giving up, we have hope.. $300 monthly. 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. Detectives couldnt be reached Wednesday to comment on whether they obtained any leads from the family members phones. Currently Reading. Thayne Alan Smika is wanted for a murder which occurred on August 1, 1983. . Link Copied! Boulder police are still looking for Thayne Smika after a murder warrant was issued for his arrest in 2010. Sam Carlson Port Protection Singer Son Kelly Carlson Makes An Appearance On The Show, Jason Segel Siblings Are Sister Alison Segel and Brother Adam Segel, DB Woodside And Golden Brooks Daughter Dakota Tao Brooks-Woodside, Deena Nicole Cortese Sister Joanie Maiorella Works As A Science Teacher, Khary Payton Parents Victor Payton And Gwendolyn Middleton Payton Raised Him With His Other Siblings, Ritchie Coster Wife Jan Conklin Is Operations Consultant With A Lot Of Experience, Stefania Spampinato Wished Her Sister Daniela Spampinato On Her New Journey, Was Thayne Smika Found? I dont know why the grand jury was handled the way it was. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Reply. . Boulder police release new sketches of Smika. 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. How can a district attorney actually handle his grand jury in such a manner? Colo. police seek help with high-profile cold case. However, they are crucial to any rooms look and feel. 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Its something I would like to see before Im gone, Neitzel said. Things were going as planned for Smika, according to the documents, late on July 31. 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 . Smika told the detectives that a possible suspect was Craig Evans, a man Smika said had been stealing cocaine from the victim. Police and the family believe he changed his name and disappeared. Thayne Smika is wanted for the 1983 slaying of his roommate, who was dating Robert Redford's daughter at the time. 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. Photo from the Boulder Daily Camera Spring 2011 Campus News Police suspected Smika, Wells' roommate, and arrested him a few months after investigators said they linked him to the murder. Their elections are non-partisan. A nearby chair had been overturned, and the coffee table was moved aside. 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. LinnyT. The couple have two children, a boy and a girl. The rent was due that day. Police released his 1983 mugshot and an age-progressed image of what he might look like today. Smika was arrested on Oct. 6, 1983 for first-degree murder. Thayne Smika was arrested in 1983 for the murder of his roommate Sid Wells, but the Boulder County Jail freed him after his mother put up a bond. endstream July 31, 2013 / 9:40 PM 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. 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. 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. But as time passed, Sid began having trouble collecting the rent. After a cold case investigation in December 2010 an arrest warrant for the murder was issued. The following week, Smika's mother posts a $100,000 bond, and. The state or Arizona has until January 4, 2019, to respond. Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines. Darlene Smika the mother of the missing suspect, who vanished in 1986 refused to speak with detectives, police reported. 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. 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