Decades-Old Punk Rock Murder Suspect Captured in Exotic Locale

A Michigan man, who had evaded capture for more than 30 years after allegedly murdering his punk-rock singer roommate, has finally been apprehended, authorities announced.

Richard Werstine, also known as Joseph Alan Stavros, aged 56, was detained in Panama City, Panama, this past April, as revealed in a statement by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Werstine became a fugitive following the suspected murder of his 23-year-old roommate, Rodney Barger, in Detroit on September 15, 1993.

At the time of his untimely death, Barger was the frontman for the punk band Cold as Life, as reported by the Detroit Metro Times.

Richard Werstine is accused of killing his roommate, Rodney Barger, in Detroit, Mich., on Sept. 15, 1993. (U.S. Marshals Service)

Federal authorities said Werstine was arrested just days after the alleged murder but failed to appear for his trial — prompting an arrest warrant to be issued in 1994. 

“He was a ghost since ‘94,” a federal source told Local 4. “He was very cunning, very crafty while on the run.”

Richard Werstine was arrested in Panama City, Panama, and extradited to the United States on April 29, 2026, according to officials. (U.S. Marshals Service)

He allegedly remained on the lam for several years, and in 2022 the USMS adopted the arrest warrant after investigators learned he had been arrested several times under different aliases while he continued to evade authorities.

“Over the course of the investigation, the USMS utilized state-of-the-art investigative resources and techniques and devoted numerous hours in efforts to find the fugitive,” federal officials said.

Richard Werstine admitted to entering Panama illegally in 2005, according to federal authorities. (iStock)

The investigation led authorities to arrest Werstine at a dog park in Panama City on April 29, 2026. 

Upon being taken into custody, officials said Werstine confessed to his true identity after he was allegedly found with fraudulent documentation and admitted to entering Panama illegally in 2005.

He was subsequently extradited from Panama to the United States and handed over to Wayne County officials. 

“The tenacity and commitment of the United States Marshals Service working to bring Werstine and those like him into police custody where they belong is at the forefront of our daily mission here in Detroit,” Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Jimmy Allen said.

“His arrest not only works toward bringing closure to the friends and family who have lost a loved one but also demonstrates our promise to pursue those who think they can prey on the members of our communities without being held accountable.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service for comment.