Fugitive in 1993 murder of Detroit rock singer captured in Panama

Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News on May 11, 2026

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DETROIT — A fugitive wanted in the 1993 murder of a Detroit man was caught in Panama and returned to the United States, officials said.

Richard Werstine will be turned over to authorities in Wayne County, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

"The tenacity and commitment of the U.S. 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 in a statement. "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."

How officials identified him

Police in Panama City, Panama, arrested Werstine at a dog park on April 29, according to the Marshals Service.

Officers said they found fake identification on him, but determined his true identity after analyzing the 56-year-old's fingerprints. He later confessed to his true identity and being a fugitive. Werstine also told Panamanian investigators he had illegally entered the country in 2005.

U.S. Marshals retrieved Werstine from Panama on Saturday with the help of the Diplomatic Security Service and Homeland Security Investigations agents.

The crime and the investigation

Officials said Werstine was wanted in the Sept. 15, 1993, murder of his roommate, Rodney Barger, 23, in Detroit. Police arrested Werstine days after the crime, but he failed to appear for his trial, according to investigators.

A judge issued an arrest warrant for Werstine in June 1994, according to authorities.

Barger was a member of a Detroit rock band called Cold as Life when he was killed, according to media reports.

Hard rock and metal music magazine Revolver reported the band was synonymous with hardcore's dangerous underbelly in an article about the group's reunion.

"Cold as Life were initially founded way back in 1988 by guitarist Gunnells, drummer Roy Bates and fabled wild-man vocalist Rodney 'Rawn Beauty' Barger," Revolver said. "Many of Cold as Life’s craziest stories (intraband brawls, confrontations at shows, heavy drinking) are credited to Barger’s erratic behavior, but his talents as a belligerent vocalist and underclass poet remain obvious."

The publication also said that Barger was shot to death in his sleep in 1993.

The U.S. Marshals Service Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team took over the search for Werstine in May 2022. The agency's investigation revealed Werstine had been arrested multiple times over the years under different aliases, including Joseph Alan Stavros, but law enforcement never knew his true identity, officials said.

They said investigators developed leads over the past year that indicated Werstine was in Panama. Marshals in Detroit worked with the service’s Office of International Operations and Panamanian authorities to find and arrest him.

"The U.S. Marshals Service takes crimes of this nature extremely seriously, given the violent nature of the alleged offense and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution," Owen Cypher, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan, said in a statement. "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 U.S. Marshals Service won’t find you and bring you to justice."

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