Who Murdєred Sid Wells? How Robert Redford’s Death Renewed the Hunt for Answers

Robert Redford’s family tragedy has resurfaced following his death, bringing renewed attention to the unsolved 1983 murdєr of his daughter’s boyfriend, Sid Wells.

In August 1983, Sid Wells, a 22-year-old University of Colorado Boulder student, was found shot in the back of the head inside his Boulder condo. At the time, Wells was dating Shauna Redford, the daughter of legendary actor Robert Redford. The devastating news reached Redford just as he was preparing to shoot The Natural. He immediately chartered a jet, picked up his wife Lola Van Wagenen in Utah, and rushed to comfort his grieving daughter.

Robert Redford’s Family Shaken by the Tragedy

Shauna Redford had been dating Sid Wells since their freshman year after a Navy ROTC dance. The relationship was serious, and his murdєr left her shattered. Robert Redford himself admitted the tragedy deeply changed him, making him more reclusive and wary of his family’s high profile.

Redford attended Wells’ funeral in Colorado before returning to set, but he confessed that his mind was consumed with his daughter’s pain.

Thayne Smika: The Prime Suspect

At the time of his murdєr, Wells was renting a room to Thayne Smika, a 24-year-old college dropout who had fallen behind on rent. Investigators quickly turned their attention to Smika, finding inconsistencies in his story.

Police discovered a note from Smika saying he had gone to visit his parents. However, evidence suggested otherwise: he claimed to be getting a perm and doing laundry at his parents’ home, but records showed he already had a perm a week earlier, and laundry facilities existed at the condo complex.

Smika was arrested in October 1983, but prosecutors released him, citing insufficient evidence. A grand jury declined to indict him in 1985, and by 1986, Smika had disappeared. His abandoned car was later found in Beverly Hills with a stolen license plate, wiped of fingerprints.

Robert Redford’s Ongoing Involvement

Despite his Hollywood commitments, Robert Redford continued to follow the investigation. Former Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett revealed that Redford personally called him years later to thank his office for pursuing justice for Sid Wells. This reflected the actor’s enduring concern for both his daughter and the Wells family.

Shauna Redford stayed in touch with Sid’s mother, June Menger, who admitted that the Redford connection helped keep the case alive in the public eye.

Renewed Attention After Redford’s Passing

After Robert Redford’s death at age 89, the FBI’s Denver field office once again spotlighted the case. They shared age-progressed photos of Thayne Smika, who would now be 66, and renewed their call for information.

In 2010, a new arrest warrant was issued based on advanced ballistics testing, which linked pellets from Wells’ body to shotgun shells found at the Smika family’s home. Despite this, Smika remains at large.

The FBI continues to offer a $10,000 reward for credible information leading to Smika’s arrest and conviction. Authorities urge anyone with knowledge to contact their local FBI office or nearest U.S. embassy.