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Man wanted for murder of Robert Redford's daughter's boyfriend has been missing since 1986
Posted on 9/22/25 at 8:42 am
Posted on 9/22/25 at 8:42 am
The unsolved family murder that haunted Robert Redford for decades... as police reveal 'new evidence' on 'killer' who is STILL one of America's most wanted
Thayne Smika was the roommate of the boyfriend, Sid Wells, who was dating Shauna Redford for 3 years and apparently they planned to marry.
After Wells was shot in 1983, Smika was arrested and then released without charges being filed. He later disappeared and hasn't been seen since 1986.
That's a long time to be in hiding without being caught.
Thayne Smika was the roommate of the boyfriend, Sid Wells, who was dating Shauna Redford for 3 years and apparently they planned to marry.
After Wells was shot in 1983, Smika was arrested and then released without charges being filed. He later disappeared and hasn't been seen since 1986.
That's a long time to be in hiding without being caught.
quote:
It was the shocking murder that tormented Robert Redford for more than four decades – and still haunts the police department that couldn't quite nail their man.
Redford's daughter Shauna was dating Sidney Wells when he was killed while her father was filming one of his biggest hits, the baseball movie The Natural, more than 40 years ago.
And the attempt to find the main suspect in the case – Wells's roommate Thayne Smika – is still ongoing to this day.
quote:
Meanwhile, North Dakota-born Smika – known as Jungle Mike – would now be 66, but no-one is known to have seen him since 1986.
Retired Boulder deputy police chief David Hayes is convinced Smika is still alive, despite his family telling cops back in 2010 that he had passed away.
'An investigation into his possible death turned up nothing,' Hayes told Daily Mail.
12
Posted on 9/22/25 at 8:45 am to Bjorn Cyborg
"Who are those guys..??"
Posted on 9/22/25 at 8:52 am to LSURussian
Ha ha.
It's actually quite impressive to stay missing for that long, despite being on the FBI's most-wanted list - which means you would be stopped at any airports, ports of entry, etc., and you would be flagged during most law enforcement interactions.
Apparently the murder was over an argument about the rent. Dude kills his college roommate over the rent, and then lives on the run the rest of his life.
I never heard this story before, but it popped back in the news after Redford's death. Crazy story.
It's actually quite impressive to stay missing for that long, despite being on the FBI's most-wanted list - which means you would be stopped at any airports, ports of entry, etc., and you would be flagged during most law enforcement interactions.
Apparently the murder was over an argument about the rent. Dude kills his college roommate over the rent, and then lives on the run the rest of his life.
I never heard this story before, but it popped back in the news after Redford's death. Crazy story.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 8:53 am to Bjorn Cyborg
fricked around and found out
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:10 am to Bjorn Cyborg
He may be 6' deep in the desert somewhere.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:11 am to Bjorn Cyborg
Any chance Redford just had the guy killed?
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:11 am to XenScott
quote:
He may be 6' deep in the desert somewhere.
this is what I'm thinking.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:12 am to Bjorn Cyborg
Lesson: It was not wise to f*ck with Redford.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:14 am to Shiftyplus1
quote:
Any chance Redford just had the guy killed?
His family claims he died in 2010, so at the least they were in contact with him prior to that.
The FBI does not believe he is dead.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:22 am to Bjorn Cyborg
quote:
His family claims he died in 2010, so at the least they were in contact with him prior to that.
I read it as, in 2010 the family told the FBI that he was dead, not necessarily that he died in 2010.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:25 am to Epic Cajun
You may be correct. But they have to have been in contact with him to know that he is dead.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:26 am to Bjorn Cyborg
quote:
But they have to have been in contact with him to know that he is dead.
I know what you mean but, this made me laugh.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:26 am to Bjorn Cyborg
Shauna Redford
OT 4.5 at best
OT 4.5 at best
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:29 am to The Torch
quote:
OT 4.5 at best
what if she inherits his $200m?
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:30 am to Bjorn Cyborg
Must have been pretty cool to be able to have the right documents and put together the right information and just become someone else and disappear.
And of course, no one really was checking into all that stuff because it was all actual paper filing system so to actually back ground check stuff, it had to be faxed or mailed
And of course, no one really was checking into all that stuff because it was all actual paper filing system so to actually back ground check stuff, it had to be faxed or mailed
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:31 am to Bjorn Cyborg
At first I thought Redford’s daughter was the one killed. Just her bf? The death of his daughter’s bf haunted him forty years?
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:33 am to Bjorn Cyborg
This seems most likely Robert Redford had the guy killed and disappeared.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:35 am to MorbidTheClown
quote:
what if she inherits his $200m?
OT 4.5 still
OT butler may be more interested in that chump change.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:37 am to Bjorn Cyborg
This sounds like a case of well planned vigilante justice
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