Fugitive in 90s Rock Musician Murder Case Captured After Decades on the Run

A man has been apprehended abroad after federal authorities claim he eluded capture for decades following the murder of his roommate, who was the lead singer of a Detroit punk rock band.

Richard Werstine, 56, was detained in Panama by the U.S. Marshals Service with the aid of local officials, as reported by Detroit News.

Initially arrested and charged shortly after the 1993 murder of Rodney Barger, the 23-year-old frontman of Cold as Life, Werstine managed to evade justice. Barger, also known by his stage name ‘Rawn Beauty’, was fatally shot while he slept.

In a 2023 article by Revolver Magazine, Barger was characterized as a ‘legendary wild-man vocalist’. Cold as Life became renowned for their raucous performances, gaining substantial recognition in 1998 with the release of their debut album, “Born to Land Hard.”

Revolver Magazine noted that “Many of Cold as Life’s wildest tales—such as in-band fights, showdowns at their performances, and heavy drinking—are attributed to Barger’s unpredictable nature, yet his prowess as an intense vocalist and raw poet of the working class remains undeniable.”

Werstine failed to appear for his trial in 1994 and another arrest warrant for him was issued in June of that year.

For the next 32 years, Werstine used a series of aliases to evade capture, according to the US Marshals Service. 

In May 2022, when the US Marshals took over the investigation, they discovered that Werstine had been arrested multiple times under fake names over the years. Authorities simply never connected the dots to figure out who he really was, federal investigators said.

‘He was a ghost since ’94,’ a federal source told Click On Detroit. ‘He was very cunning, very crafty while on the run.’ 

Pictured: U.S. Marshals and police escort Richard Werstine in Houston. He was arrested in Panama, where he spent more than 20 years of his life

Werstine, 56, was arrested last month for the 1993 murder of Rodney Barger

US Marshals said they used state-of-the-art investigative techniques to catch Werstine, who had been hiding out in Panama. They never received any tips on his whereabouts.

Police in Panama City arrested him at a dog park on April 29. Officers said he had fake identification documents on him, though his identity was later confirmed when his fingerprints were analyzed.

Werstine admitted his true identity and said he was a fugitive. He also told Panamanian authorities that he had illegally entered the country in 2005.

On Saturday, the US Marshals retrieved Werstine with the help of the Diplomatic Security Service, the law enforcement arm of the US State Department, and agents with Homeland Security Investigations.

‘The US Marshals Service takes crimes of this nature extremely seriously given the violent nature of the alleged offense and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution,’ said Owen Cypher, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan. 

‘The dedication of all members of my staff who spearheaded the arrest of this fugitive who has been on the run for over 30 years is a testimony to their resolve. It sends a message to fugitives that there is no place you can hide that the US Marshals Service won’t find you and bring you to justice.’

Chief Deputy US Marshal Jimmy Allen said Werstine had gotten married in Panama and had started ‘a whole new life’.

The 23-year-old lead singer of Cold as Life was shot to death in his sleep

Pictured: A Cold as Life album cover honoring Barger after his death

‘He had roots in Panama,’ Allen said. ‘I think he thought that he would never be caught. You could tell he really wanted to know how he was found and what happened.’

Allen said he was glad to finally bring closure to Barger’s family.

‘It’s been 30 years and now they can at least rest their heads at night and have some justice,’ Allen said. ‘That doesn’t change what happened, but you know, at least there’s some closure that someone’s going to pay for what they did.’

Werstine is in the United States and is awaiting extradition back to Michigan.