More than 40 years after Sidney Lee Wells, a University of Colorado student, was discovered dead in his Boulder apartment, the FBI requests public assistance. New age-progression images of Thayne Alan Smika, the accused, have been released.
The authorities released updated pictures of Smika, who has been on the run since August 1, 1983. That day, police found Wells shot in the head, lying on his living room floor. Wells, 22, studied journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder and was part of the Navy ROTC program.
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According to the FBI, an undated photographic release shows Smika wanted for the 1983 murder. At the time, Smika, aged 24, was a suspect but not charged immediately. In 1986, authorities located his deserted car in Beverly Hills, California, with a stolen license plate.
A Boulder County judge charged Smika with first-degree murder in December 2010. Federal officials charged him with unlawful flight days later, obtaining a federal arrest warrant. There’s a $10,000 reward for information leading to Smika’s capture and conviction.
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An FBI image shows how fugitive Smika might appear today if clean-shaven. The FBI hopes the images generate new leads in this unresolved case.
“It is never too late to hold a murder suspect accountable,” said Amanda Koldjeski, FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge. “The FBI stands firm in delivering justice. We’ll collaborate with Boulder Police to track down this fugitive.”
Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn stated the images could bring new leads to the decades-old murder case. “We hope to gather actionable tips to locate Smika and achieve justice,” Redfearn conveyed.
Authorities stated Smika, now 67, might be clean-shaven or have a beard and glasses. He lacks a valid U.S. passport and might have lived in Yelapa, Mexico, until 2007.
If you possess information, contact the Boulder Police at 303-441-1974, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov. Anonymous tips can reach Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
Brittany Miller, a Fox News Digital breaking news writer, is a Syracuse University 2023 graduate.
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