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DENVER — The FBI and the Boulder Police Department have released new age-progression images of a man wanted in connection with the 1983 murder of a University of Colorado Boulder student, renewing their appeal for public assistance as investigators continue searching for the fugitive more than four decades after the killing.
Authorities are seeking information on Thayne Alan Smika, who is wanted for the August 1, 1983, murder of his roommate, Sidney Lee Wells, in Boulder, Colorado.
According to investigators, Boulder police officers responded to an apartment complex on the day of the shooting, where they discovered Wells deceased on the living room floor with a gunshot wound to the head.
Wells was 22 years old and his senior year at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was studying journalism while participating in the U.S. Navy ROTC program.
Investigators identified Smika, who was 24 years old at the time, as a suspect during the original investigation, but he was not initially charged.
In October 1986, authorities located Smika’s abandoned vehicle in Beverly Hills, California. Investigators said the vehicle displayed a stolen license plate, but Smika was nowhere to be found.
The case took another significant step forward in December 2010, when the Boulder County District Court issued a state arrest warrant charging Smika with first-degree murder. Eleven days later, federal authorities charged him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, allowing the FBI to pursue him as a federal fugitive.
Despite decades of investigation, Smika has never been located.
The newly released age-progressed images depict what investigators believe Smika may look like today at approximately 67 years of age. Authorities say he may now wear glasses and could be either clean-shaven or have facial hair.
Investigators also noted that Smika does not possess a valid United States passport, although information developed during the investigation suggests he may have lived in Yelapa, Mexico, for an extended period before 2007.
FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski said the passage of time has not diminished investigators’ commitment to solving the case.
“It is never too late to hold a murder suspect accountable,” 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 actionable tips that help detectives locate Smika.
“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.”
Age-progression technology has become an valuable investigative tool in long-term fugitive and missing person cases. By combining historical photographs with modern forensic imaging techniques, investigators can produce updated likenesses reflecting how an individual may appear decades after their disappearance. Law enforcement agencies frequently release updated images when cases remain unsolved for many years, recognizing that changes in appearance can make traditional photographs less useful to the public.
The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Smika’s arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Boulder Police Department Tipline at 303-441-1974, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or submit a tip online through the FBI’s tip reporting system. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous may also contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
More than forty years after Sidney Lee Wells lost his life, investigators say they remain committed to finding the suspect and ensuring the case is ultimately resolved through the judicial process.
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“FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski said the passage of time has not diminished investigators’ commitment to solving the case.”
I think it is great that they are still looking for this guy. The enhanced pictures look pretty good but this suspect had so much hair back when this murder was committed that I think it might be hard for anyone to ID him now. Still, the hunt is back on and pictures have been released so that makes me hopeful that they will catch him.
I’m surprised that with the name and picture of this guy that he has been at large for this amount of time. He must be a very creative guy or maybe he has friends hiding him. In either case, I hope he is apprehended and brought to trial. I looked this guy up on the FBI Most Wanted website and learned nothing beyond what you have posted here. Nice work!
Thank you for today’s articles, John. I hope you have a great evening!
You’re very welcome, Chris.
It really is remarkable that investigators are still putting time and resources into a case more than four decades later. I think that says a great deal about the commitment many detectives have to victims and their families. Time may make an investigation more difficult, but it does not make a life any less important.
You make a good point about how much a person’s appearance can change over the years. Even so, sometimes it only takes one person recognizing a familiar feature, a mannerism, or remembering something they had long forgotten for a case to take a completely new direction.
Thank you again for reading and commenting, Chris. I hope you have a great day ahead. 😎