FBI Hunts Man Who Vanished After Roommate’s 1983 Murder

Clear Facts

• Sidney Lee Wells, 22, was found shot to death in his Boulder apartment on August 1, 1983
• Thayne Alan Smika, his roommate and suspect, has evaded arrest for over 40 years
• FBI released new age-progression images showing what Smika would look like at 67 years old
• Federal authorities offer $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest

More than four decades after a University of Colorado student was murdered in his Boulder apartment, the FBI has released new age-progression images of the prime suspect who has successfully evaded justice for over 40 years.

Federal investigators unveiled updated renderings Thursday of Thayne Alan Smika, who authorities believe has been on the run since the August 1, 1983, killing of his former roommate Sidney Lee Wells. Wells was just 22 years old when his life was cut short.

Police responded to a Boulder apartment complex that summer day and discovered Wells lying on the living room floor with a fatal gunshot wound to the head, according to the FBI. Wells was a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder studying journalism and was enrolled in the Navy ROTC program—a young man with his future ahead of him.

Smika, who was 24 years old and a student at the time, was identified as a suspect during the initial investigation but was not immediately charged. Three years later, in October 1986, authorities located his abandoned car in Beverly Hills, California, equipped with a stolen license plate. He has remained a fugitive ever since.

A Boulder County judge issued a state warrant charging Smika with first-degree murder in December 2010—27 years after the killing. Days later, federal authorities charged him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and obtained a federal arrest warrant.

The FBI is now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Smika’s arrest and conviction.

“It is never too late to hold a murder suspect accountable,”

FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski said.

“The FBI is unwavering in our determination to deliver justice for victims’ families. We will work with Boulder Police to pursue this fugitive until he is found and brought into custody to face the consequences of his actions.”

Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said investigators hope the newly released images will generate fresh leads in the decades-old homicide investigation.

“We are hopeful these images generate actionable tips that our detectives can investigate to find Smika and bring justice in this case,”

Redfearn said.

“No matter how much time has passed, we will never stop searching. We are grateful for our FBI partners for their help in creating these images and publicizing this crime.”

Authorities said Smika would now be 67 years old. He may be clean-shaven or have a beard or mustache and may wear glasses. Investigators also said he does not have a valid U.S. passport and may have lived in Yelapa, Mexico, for years before 2007.

The case serves as a stark reminder that justice delayed is not justice denied. Federal and local law enforcement remain committed to finding Smika and bringing him to trial for the murder of Sidney Wells, whose family has waited more than 40 years for answers.

Anyone with information is asked 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 also be made through Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

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