Podcast Summary:

Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present — "Robert Redford's Death Might Help Catch a Killer"

Date: November 8, 2025
Hosts: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode revisits a 40-year-old cold case: the 1983 murder of Sid Wells, a University of Colorado Boulder student known for dating Hollywood legend Robert Redford’s daughter, Shauna Redford. The hosts discuss how renewed media attention—sparked by Robert Redford’s recent passing—could finally help bring his daughter's boyfriend's killer to justice. Through their conversation, Amy and T.J. unpack the overlooked story's Hollywood connections, investigative twists, and the emotional toll on those involved.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Murder and Its Hollywood Connection

• Background: On August 1, 1983, Sid Wells, a well-liked 22-year-old student, was found shot execution-style in his Boulder apartment, just weeks before his senior year.
• Redford's Personal Loss: Wells had been dating Shauna Redford for several years, vacationed with the family, and was considered like a son-in-law to Robert Redford. His murder deeply impacted Redford, who halted filming of "The Natural" to support his daughter.
• "I had no idea about this story before Redford's death. This was essentially a family member for Robert Redford." – Amy Robach [06:04, 11:05]

2. The Renewed Search and Strategic Timing

• FBI’s Move: The day after Robert Redford died (September 16), the FBI publicized a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the chief suspect—Thane Allen Smika—and released an updated age-progressed sketch.
• Purposeful Publicity: This was a deliberate move by authorities to leverage renewed public interest surrounding Redford, and to capitalize on media attention to revive the cold case.
• "It was a brilliant move because everybody was talking about Redford and suddenly, this old murder case was back in the headlines." – Amy Robach [05:21]

3. The Main Suspect: Thane Allen Smika

• Early Suspicion: Smika, Wells’ roommate, quickly became the prime suspect after police found inconsistencies in his alibi (claiming he went home for laundry and a perm, though both were available or already done), and because of suspicious behavior and evidence—including testimonies about confessions and cleaning bloody clothes.
• Legal Dead-Ends: Though arrested and brought before a grand jury in 1983, authorities declined to prosecute due to insufficient evidence. Smika vanished shortly after the investigation stalled in 1986 and hasn't been seen since.
• Modern Pursuits: In 2010, advancements (including DNA evidence and renewed witness statements) spurred another arrest warrant, but Smika remains missing.
• "He vanished in 1986. Authorities have been looking, but he’s never resurfaced." – T.J. Holmes [08:02]

4. The Aftermath for Robert Redford and His Family

• Personal Changes: Multiple sources and those close to Redford report he became withdrawn, fearful, and changed after Wells’ murder, going so far as to hire personal security for his daughter.
• Broader Impact: The pain and uncertainty affected his public presence and possibly his later career moves.
• Mother’s Perspective: Initially, Sid Wells’ mother worried Redford’s fame overshadowed her son, but later recognized the value of celebrity in keeping the case alive and in public focus.
• "She realized she needed Robert Redford—his celebrity was the only hope they had of getting enough attention to possibly get justice." – T.J. Holmes [26:05]

5. Challenges in Finding Smika

• Disappearance Details:
  • Last trace: His car, wiped clean of prints, found abandoned in Beverly Hills, Oct 1986.
  • Possible foreign escape: Smika allegedly told his parents to ready their passports to visit him after he left, further fueling theories he fled abroad.
  • No contact: Even Smika’s parents claim they’ve had no communication with him since he disappeared.
• Skepticism and Hope: Each time major media—48 Hours (1998), Redford’s death, new articles—covered the case, new tips surfaced, giving law enforcement and the Wells/Redford family hope.
• "You get tips, you get sightings, maybe one day you get the break you need." – T.J. Holmes [16:10]

6. Emotional Resonance & Reflection

• The episode closes with both hosts reflecting deeply on how crime and tragedy touch even the most seemingly insulated families, and how celebrity can be a double-edged sword in the quest for justice.
• "This shows the human side—no matter how rich or famous, tragedy changes you forever." – T.J. Holmes [28:45]
• "In death, Robert Redford might actually help bring his daughter's boyfriend's killer to justice, 40 years later." – Amy Robach [29:32]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why this case is suddenly making headlines:
  • "It was a deliberate decision to use the death of Robert Redford to renew the effort to find this guy." – T.J. Holmes [04:49]
• On the main suspect's behavior:
  • "He said he went home for laundry and a perm. Turns out, they had laundry there and he already had a perm the week before. That got police suspicious." – T.J. Holmes [08:02]
• On family impact:
  • "Robert Redford reportedly paid for security for the family because they didn't know where the killer was and wanted to make sure they were safe." – Amy Robach [25:42]
• On the investigation's reality:
  • "Every time there’s renewed attention, tips come in. When the 48 Hours episode aired, they got sightings, but nothing panned out. Still, that’s how cases get solved." – T.J. Holmes [16:10]
• On the endurance of grief:
  • "No matter who you are, murder, death... they touch you in such a deep, traumatic way, you can’t recover oftentimes." – T.J. Holmes [28:45]
• On the enduring hope for justice:
  • "Because of this—in death—Robert Redford might actually help bring his daughter's boyfriend's killer to justice." – Amy Robach [29:32]

Timeline of Important Segments

• [04:11]: Episode opens on the Sid Wells case and its renewed attention after Redford's death
• [05:21]: FBI launches a new reward campaign linked to Redford’s passing
• [06:04 – 08:02]: Discussion of the crime, relationship between Wells & Redford’s daughter, and prime suspect Thane Smika
• [09:47]: Modern DNA evidence and witness testimonies recapped
• [12:57]: Details about Smika’s disappearance and age-progressed sketch released
• [16:10]: The impact of fresh media attention/tips on potential case breakthroughs
• [23:19]: Recap after break—how the case changed Redford and reflections on celebrity grief
• [25:42]: How Sid’s mother reconciled Redford’s celebrity focus with justice for her son
• [28:45]: Reflections on trauma, human vulnerability, and Shawna’s later life

Conclusion

Amy and T.J. deliver a nuanced, empathetic look at a decades-old murder mystery, spotlighting how Robert Redford’s recent death is reigniting attention and hope for resolution in a tragic case overlooked by many. They emphasize the transformative nature of loss, the complexities of leveraging celebrity, and the persistent hope that justice—even after 40 years—remains possible.

Future Watch: The hosts pledge ongoing coverage as the investigation progresses, signaling the real possibility that justice may—finally—be at hand.