Robert Redford Haunted by Drug-Fueled Murder for Decades

Robert Redford knew his fair share of tragedy during his storied lifetime, but few were more devastating than the murder of Sid Wells in 1983.

The murder became a national news story when Redford — arguably at the height of his fame — asked that production be shut down on the beloved baseball classic The Natural so that he could travel to the funeral.

The murder drew the attention of the Hollywood heavyweight because Wells had been dating Shauna Redford, the daughter of the Oscar-winning director.

Police had initially suspected Wells’ roommate Thayne Smika of murdering the 22-year-old journalism student — just days before the start of his senior year at the University of Colorado Boulder.

In the wake of Redford’s death this month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Denver field office shared a post on social media with details of the killing, age-progressed drawings of the suspect and reminded the public of the $10,000 reward for any information leading to the capture or arrest of Smika.

Wells’ brother discovered his body after returning home from a camping truck to the apartment the two men shared in Boulder with Smika, according to an arrest warrant issued in 2010 and obtained by PEOPLE.

Wells had been shot in the back of the head, per the warrant, and multiple residents in the apartment complex told police that they had heard a loud noise less than an hour before their arrival.

The warrant also revealed that a note was found at the scene which was left by Smika, saying he had gone to visit his parents and would return in a few days time.

Investigators with the Boulder Police Department drove to the home of Smika’s mother that evening to inform the third roommate of Wells’ death.

Smika told police of a possible suspect he claimed was stealing cocaine from Wells, according to the warrant. Smika also told authorities he had taken a large quantity of cash and cocaine from Wells‘ room to keep it away from this individual, who later denied all the allegations and had an alibi, according to investigators.

Police initially believed Smika’s story and placed him in protective custody, but soon determined that a number of claims he made appeared to be false.

Smika had claimed he was returning home to get a perm and do some laundry, according to the warrant, but investigators soon learned he had gotten a perm just one week before the shooting, while the building the trio lived in had laundry facilities.

In interviews with police summarized in the warrant, friends of Smika spoke of his financial troubles and alleged penchant for theft and scams, while also claiming his drug habit had grown worse and worse over the years. 

One friend also alleged that Smika confessed to the murder after a night of drinking, while another woman alleged Smika’s sister had spoken about being made to wash his bloody clothes on the same day as the murder, according to the warrant.

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The already complicated investigation then had the added pressure of becoming a national news story.

Smika was taken into custody but was never indicted for Wells’ murder, after the prosecutor determined he did not have enough evidence to secure a conviction.

Then, once he was released from jail, Smika disappeared.

Even his parents claimed to not know his whereabouts in an interview 11 years after his 1986 disappearance, per the warrant.

In that 1997 interview, they said that their son had told them of his plan to flee and move to another country, instructing them both to get their passports so that they could come see him once he had settled in — but he never reached out afterward.

A formal arrest warrant was issued for Smika in 2010, seeking to charge him with murder.

There have been no clues or tips in recent years, but the FBI hopes that the renewed interest in the case could help finally track down Smika, who would now be 74.

Redford passed away on Sept. 16 at his home in Sundance, Utah at the age of 89.

His daughter Shauna is now a painter and married to journalist Eric Schlosser, best known for his 2001 exposé Fast Food Nation, with whom she has two children.

Anyone with information concerning Smika should contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.