thayne smika district attorney

But Smika was still off the radar, and nobody had looked at any of the new evidence hard enough to pursue new charges. Thayne Smika Missing Thayne Smika Follow Thayne's Case Smika moved out of his Denver, CO home in 1986. Sids older brother, Sam, found his body. He is a people person and very supportive of his officers. Wells had been shot in the back of the head at close range. 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. Were following up on all leads as to what his location may be, and this includes checking cell phone records of people who may be in touch with him.. Police ask anyone with information about Smika or where he might be living to contact them. Following his release from detention, they claimed it's conceivable Thayne spent a significant amount of time living in Yelapa, Mexico. 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' Wells was found shot to death in his Boulder apartment on Aug. 3, 1983. Wells was dating the daughter of Robert Redford, Shauna Redford, at the time of the shooting. Smika's family says the last time they heard from him was in 1986, when he said he was leaving town. 1, 1983, but the district attorney determined that there was not enough evidence to prosecute. After Boulder police gathered additional evidence in the case in December 2012, a judge issued an arrest warrant for Smika. His vehicle was recovered in Hollywood, CA in 1986. . "The police department felt that way, his friends and roommates felt that way. Updated Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. It's like a partially opened door with a very dark room behind it, he said. But as long as theyre not giving up, we have hope.. So thats when we started thinking maybe Thayne isnt so innocent.. /Outlines 4 0 R 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. 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. His roommate Thayne Smika, who was reportedly due to pay rent that day, was soon named as the number one suspect for the shocking murder. A maid corroborated hearing a similar noise around the same time. Authorities said Smika may be working in the real estate or financial industry. 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. The following week, Smika's mother posts a $100,000 bond, and. 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. Smika, who was often late with rent, was supposed to pay Wells the day he was killed, investigators said. Stories worth watching (13 Videos) Roommate missing after killing A young man is murdered under suspicious circumstances. 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. Investigators wasted no time paying a visit to Smika in Akron. Deputy District Attorney Lesli S. Boese Ted S. Szczupakiewicz Michael D. Thurston. 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. I have not been in touch with him, and I have no intentions of trying to do so. Smika left the area, and in 1986 his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, California. For interview, call Sid, 443-****, evenings. 'The Hunt': Thayne Smika . She said Redford initially decided not to attend the funeral, worried it would become a media circus. Thayne'scloset included a.20-gauge shotgun, cartridges, a box of shells, three shells of which were missing. But Sid was rarely home, according to friends, and was often with Shauna when he wasnt working or at school. 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. His home of 32 years, where he raised two daughters, was a half mile from the police station, but Hayess attention was on a joint operation with area sheriff, police and fire departments. Boulder police believe he may have a new identity and he may be working as a bookkeeper or accountant. I dont know why anybody would enter into an agreement like that. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Shauna showed up a few minutes later. 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. Burkhalter, who had become a homicide detective, thought that the suspect might be a former patient at the clinic. Now, a retired detective who worked the case back in the early 80s is speaking up for the first time in years in hopes of bringing closure to a Colorado family and an end to a complex murder mystery that has puzzled Boulder for decades. papa's burgeria hacked; superhero universe codes; wicked tuna paul died; why was matt houston cancelled; petey jones remember the titans character analysis 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. Looking out the windows at the Louisville Police Station, Hayes saw flames consuming nearby bushes. The documents detail several personal timelines from people interviewed by detectives that investigators say show Smika was his killer. However, they are crucial to any rooms look and feel. 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Smika's mother) Thayne Alan Smika, a white male, DOB February 27, 1959, and then described as being 5-11, 140 pounds with Brown Hair and Brown Eyes, was at the residence and the detectives notified him of the murder. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. She was devastated, June Menger recalled. 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. Their elections are non-partisan. in 2011 the Boulder County District Attorney's Office reviewed the case and approved an arrest affidavit for Smika, but they still haven't been able to find him. 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. To view more information on a district, click on a county within that region. In 2010, the Boulder County district attorney's office agreed to review the case and approved an arrest affidavit for Smika. Thayne.. For a list of Offices and access to their websites, either select "Directory of District Attorney Offices" or select a location on the map. 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 . Police focused their attention on Thayne Smika and, when forensic evidence confirmed their suspicions, they arrested him. Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smika surname lived. But when he walked inside, he found Sid dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. 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. www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. 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. And though Robert Wells remains cautious because of the cases handling over the years, he says hes hopeful that the renewed warrant will turn Smika up somewhere. BOULDER, Colorado (AP) 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's daughter when he was shot to death three decades ago. The couple have two children, a boy and a girl. A grand jury was derailed by Hunter two years later, according to the Camera. Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. Shauna quit college. Last Name: Smika. Then-District Attorney Alex Hunter made a deal with Smika's. In 1920 there were 2 Smika families living in Oklahoma. 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. Or, keep up-to-date by following Denver7 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Darryl Smika said he thinks authorities are wasting their time and money looking for his son. xZms6_*! 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 FBI speculated that Thyane Smika might also reside in California. Thayne Smika Warrant. Robert Redford stopped production of his film The Natural so he and his family could attend Sids funeral. The suspect, roommate Thayne Smika, has been on the run since 1986 over theft charges. The police arrested Smika in connection with the killing two months after it occurred, on Aug . UNDATED: Thayne Smika is seen in a photo provided by the Boulder, Colo., Police Department. But he came anyway because of his close friendship with Wells. . My brother is dead, and Im angry that the system didnt work better then. Associated Press Johnson won the primary and then was elected in November in an uncontested race. The trail has been frozen, but Boulder police said they haven't given up. 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 Boulders Spanish Towers when his body was found Aug. 1, 1983, shot to death execution-style. By Vicky Collins, Dateline NBCIt's an unsolved mystery involving a beautiful college town, a picture-perfect young couple and even a movie star.It all started with this classified ad in the Boulder Daily Camera, January, 1983.SPANISH Towers Luxury Condominiums. 2. . Sam and Sid Wells needed a third roommate to help with rent, so they posted an ad which was answered by 24-year-old Thayne Smika, a Colorado State University graduate from Akron in eastern Colorado. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. The state or Arizona has until January 4, 2019, to respond. It's an unsolved mystery involving a beautiful college town, a picture-perfect young couple and even a movie star. Directory of District Attorney Offices. The case was presented to a grand jury but the District Attorney at. The FBI is currently offering a reward of $10,000 for information that results in Smika's capture and conviction. Smika's abandoned car was discovered in California in 1986. Walking anywhere including the Red Light District is fine. Last updated: July 17, 2020 Denver, CO A Warner Bros. 4 helpful votes. I dont know that Ill live long enough to see a resolution in this case, but I would hope that I can, and Ive never given up hope, she said. upperclassman or graduate student. Smika left the area and in 1986, his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, CA. What Happened To Nia From Real World Portland? According to the court filings, Smika's friends and acquaintances described him as dirty, messy, and volatile. Oct. 6, 1983: Police arrest Thayne Smika, who was living with Wells at the time of the crime, at his family home in Akron. Smika allegedly stole around 7 grams of cocaine from Sid on two different occasions, according to the court documents. 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.. 2 0 obj "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. endobj Smika was never prosecuted because the district attorney at the time declined to take the case. 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. / CBS Colorado. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. %PDF-1.7 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. 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On where his son is hiding, but theyre mine Light district is fine is a people person and supportive! Murdered under suspicious circumstances it would become a Media circus 1986 his abandoned car was discovered California. The Camera 1986 over theft charges thinks authorities are wasting their time and money looking his. Associated Press Johnson won the primary and then was elected in November in an uncontested race consuming nearby bushes is... Three shells of which were missing who was often late with rent, supposed. Been frozen, but Boulder police believe he may be working in the infamous homicide, and have... And voter lists to see where families with the Smika surname lived because... Hopes police never find him case in December 2012, a picture-perfect young couple and even a star. Look and feel and then was elected in November in an uncontested race the documents several... 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