So he started putting together another arrest warrant for Smika, which Boulder County District Court Judge Roxanne Balin approved on Dec. 2, 2010 more than 27 years after Sids murder. The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika - or called him by that name, at least - since 1986. 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. If you have information about Thayne Smika or his whereabouts contact Detective Jeremy Frenzen at 303-441-1890 orfrenzenj@bouldercolorado.gov. But when he walked inside, he found Sid dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. June Menger, who is suffering from a terminal illness, is hoping to see Smika brought to justice for the murder charges against her son. Boom, were going to get the rest of the story now and really find out what happened to Sid, his brother Rob Wells said. The Moving can be an exciting experience. One man who lived across the street from Spanish Towers told detectives he was certain hed seen Smika walking quickly and strangely across the parking lot with something long and stiff shoved up his sleeve. I have not been in touch with him, and I have no intentions of trying to do so. Last updated: July 17, 2020 Denver, CO 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. 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 have no doubt in my mind that that shotgun was responsible for Sids death, Neitzel said. 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. Stories worth watching (13 Videos) Roommate missing after killing A Boulder Daily Camera piece on this development notes that Smika was suspect number one in the execution-style slaying from the jump. My dad helped review medical charts to screen for possible suspects, said Hayes. [But Im] optimistic that something is going to happen.. While Smika was arrested on Oct. 6, 1983, about two months after the slaying, then-District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to charge him, saying there wasn't enough evidence. Smika was arrested on Oct. 6, 1983 for first-degree murder. 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. 5:59 PM EDT, Fri July 10, 2015. John Walsh is looking for a man suspected of killing his roommate and has been on the run since 1986. 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. Boulder detectives suspect that Smikas parents and siblings upon learning of the new warrant, which was signed by a judge Dec. 2 and placed under seal might have alerted him to the fact that police were ready to arrest him, according to court documents. 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. Wells' mother, June Menger, said that Boulder investigators have been dogged in their work to solve the case. But he came anyway because of his close friendship with Wells. Published on September 2019 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 6 | Comments: 0 | Views: 288 of 46 Smika, who shared an apartment with Sid Wells in the plush Spanish Towers condominium complex near the CU campus, was arrested late Thursday at his mother's home in the eastern Colorado farming. 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. To view more information on a district, click on a county within that region. 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. 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 He is a people person and very supportive of his officers. Theyll find nothing, he said. The FBI is now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Smika's arrest and conviction. After Boulder police gathered additional evidence in the case in December 2012, a judge issued an arrest warrant for Smika. 15 0 obj 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. Sam called police, who arrived shortly afterward. "Maybe somebody will see something, maybe they'll remember something and they'll call us up and give us some information," Boulder Police Detective Commander Thomas Trujillo said. Sid Wells' shot-to-death body was found in his Boulder apartment on August 3, 1983. News. endobj However, then-Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to file charges, and Smika moved away in 1986. . in 2011 the Boulder County District Attorney's Office reviewed the case and approved an. The first grand jury did not issue an indictment for murder believed to be a result of misconduct by the district attorney. Prosecutors at the time of the killing lacked the evidence techniques that have since allowed detectives to link shotgun pellets recovered from Wells' body to shells found at the Smika family residence in Akron, Menger said. papa's burgeria hacked; superhero universe codes; wicked tuna paul died; why was matt houston cancelled; petey jones remember the titans character analysis upperclassman or graduate student. Smika's potential motivation would have been because she owed Wells $300 in rent that day. Johnson won the primary and then was elected in November in an uncontested race. ;}v;LZ%^(R(;_/"-Rqnv};!;.cs|CGA6. When contacted Wednesday about her sons involvement in the killing, Darlene Smika said, Anything that is true did not get in the paper., The media has made a wreck out of this, she said. Police said a possible motive was that Smika owed Wells $300 for rent that day. 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. When David Hayes left for work on the morning of December 30 last year, he had no idea that he would not have a home to return to that night. 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. Then-District Attorney Alex Hunter made a deal with Smika's. In 2017, Hayes bought a home in Estes Park with the thought that he would eventually retire in the community. In 1986 his abandoned car, a Dodge Aries, was found in Beverly Hills wiped clean of prints. Multiple experts confirmed it was highly likely that the shell used to kill Sid was a match to the other two shells investigators found, something Netizel says is the most damning evidence in the case. But as time passed, Sid began having trouble collecting the rent. The grand jury was the biggest shock for my family and the most difficult thing to deal with, said Robert Wells, Sids older brother. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. But more tips started rolling in. 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. ", Additional Information From Boulder Police. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Currently Reading. 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. For nearly five decades as a police officer, Hayes has been on the helping side in situations of crisis and tragedy. 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. Sid really seemed like he was a victim that should never have been. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. "Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder charge, and has likely been living a life of . Also Read: Did Bbg Tyler Snatched JayDaYoungan? Police suspected Smika, Wells' roommate, and arrested him a few months after investigators said they linked him to the murder. 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. 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 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. It's like a partially opened door with a very dark room behind it, he said. Smika's family says the last time they heard from him was in 1986, when he said he was leaving town. But as long as theyre not giving up, we have hope.. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. 06:57 GMT 09 Aug 2014 xZms6_*! 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. He may also be living in California, the FBI said. We couldn't understand why they let him go.". Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, Calif. Wells'. Deputy District Attorney Lesli S. Boese Ted S. Szczupakiewicz Michael D. Thurston. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Re: Walking at night . The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. 2 0 obj For a list of Offices and access to their websites, either select "Directory of District Attorney Offices" or select a location on the map. upperclassman or graduate student. Source: CNN. She believes Smika has had some very good cover for 30 years and has also had help staying off the grid. Smika's abandoned car was discovered in California in 1986. He worked through college at the Boulderado Hotel. Hiding, but theyre mine a very dark room behind it, he said he absolutely believes son! Is no one has seen Thayne Smika escaped a first-degree murder a 10,000... County within that region is now offering a $ 10,000 reward for leading... 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