Thayne Alan Smika

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Boulder Police Department Fbi Denver (CO)

Missing From:

Boulder, Colorado

Summary:

Thayne Alan Smika is a fugitive wanted for the August 1, 1983 murder of his roommate Sidney Lee Wells, a 22-year-old University of Colorado Boulder journalism student, in Boulder, Colorado. Smika was identified as a suspect but not initially charged; he disappeared in 1986 after his abandoned car was found in Beverly Hills, California, and has remained at large for over 40 years.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

Thayne Alan Smika is wanted for a murder which occurred on August 1, 1983. On that day, police officers responded to an incident at an apartment complex in Boulder, Colorado. A male victim was found in his apartment, lying on the living room floor, with a gunshot wound to his head. The victim was identified as Smika's roommate. Wells was a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder studying journalism and was enrolled in the Navy ROTC program. Sid was living with one of his brothers, Sam, and Smika in the Spanish Towers condos on 29th Street just east of campus. The Wells family owned the condo and had bought it for their children to use while in college. Police believe questions from Sid and friends regarding several grams of missing coke, a few hundred dollars, and Smika's behavior eventually led to Sid's murder just before noon on Aug. 1, 1983. Police believe that Smika, who was living in Wells' apartment, shot Wells with a single blast to the back of the head with a 20-gauge shotgun. Sid's older brother, Sam, found his body. The rent was due that day.

Additional Details:

Smika, who was a 24-year-old student at the time, was identified as a suspect during the initial investigation but was not immediately charged. An arrest was made, but the suspect was released because the Boulder District Attorney felt there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction. Later a Grand Jury met and failed to indict. Soon after, the suspect was in the wind and the case went cold. In October 1986, in Beverly Hills, California, Smika's car was found empty and abandoned with a stolen license plate. Through investigation, it was revealed that Smika may have lived in the town of Yelapa, Mexico, for many years prior to 2007. Additionally, Smika may be residing in California. On December 2, 2010, a state arrest warrant was issued for Smika by the County District Court, Boulder County, Colorado, for first degree murder. Additionally, on December 13, 2010, a federal arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court, District of Colorado, after Smika was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. The arrest warrant issued under D.A. Garnett on Dec. 2, 2010, was spurred by new ballistics tests conducted on shotgun pellets found in Wells' body. Investigators believed the pellets matched shotgun shells found at the Smika family home in eastern Colorado. Smika was known around town as a college dropout and drifter. 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. He also had a habit of using cocaine, something he sought but could rarely afford. Family members mentioned Smika had faced mental struggles throughout his life as well and suffered blackouts, among other symptoms. Sid's mother fought for thirty years trying to bring the murderer to justice. Sadly, June Wells Menger died in 2014 of cancer and the case has never been solved. Redford's death in September 2025 prompted the FBI to revive the investigation and call on the public for help in locating the alleged murderer.

Case Last Updated:

Aug 01, 2026