More than forty years after a University of Colorado student was fatally shot in his apartment, the FBI seeks public assistance with new age-progression images of the suspect. On Thursday, investigators presented updated renderings of Thayne Alan Smika, accused of killing his former roommate, Sidney Lee Wells, on August 1, 1983. Smika has eluded capture for decades.
Authorities responded to Wells’ Boulder apartment, where they found him dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Wells, a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder, was studying journalism and participated in the Navy ROTC program. Smika, a 24-year-old student then, was identified as a suspect but not charged immediately.
Three years later, in October 1986, Smika’s abandoned car was discovered in Beverly Hills, California, with a stolen license plate, and he has been on the run since. A Boulder County judge issued a state warrant for Smika’s arrest on first-degree murder charges in December 2010. Subsequently, federal authorities pursued unlawful flight charges to avoid prosecution and obtained a federal arrest warrant.
The FBI offers a $10,000 reward for information that leads to Smika’s capture and conviction. The agency released new images showing what Smika might look like today, hoping these generate new leads. According to Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski, the FBI is committed to seeking justice for the victims’ families and will cooperate with Boulder Police to bring Smika to justice.
Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn expressed optimism about the potential for these images to yield actionable tips. He emphasized the department’s unwavering commitment to pursuing the case, regardless of time. The FBI’s assistance in creating and publicizing the images is greatly appreciated.
The updated images suggest that Smika, now 67, could be clean-shaven or have facial hair and might wear glasses. He reportedly lacks a valid U.S. passport and may have resided in Yelapa, Mexico, until 2007.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Boulder Police tip line at 303-441-1974, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Anonymous tips can be provided via Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
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