A Michigan man, Richard Werstine, has been apprehended almost 33 years after he allegedly murdered his roommate, a punk rock vocalist, in 1993. The arrest took place in Panama City, Panama, where Werstine had been living under various aliases since evading law enforcement.
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The U.S. Marshals Service announced on May 10 that Werstine, 56, was taken into custody on April 29. He is charged with the murder of 23-year-old Rodney Barger, a singer for the Detroit-based punk band Cold as Life. The incident reportedly occurred on September 15, 1993, in Detroit.
Werstine was initially arrested shortly after the murder; however, he did not appear in court to face charges. As a result, his case went cold for many years until authorities renewed their efforts to locate him. In May 2022, the U.S. Marshals adopted the warrant for his arrest due to his failure to appear.
U.S. Marshals Service reported that investigative teams employed advanced techniques to track Werstine down. The Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team (DFAT) developed leads indicating he might be hiding in Panama City. The team collaborated with the U.S. Marshals’ Office of International Operations and local law enforcement in Panama to confirm his whereabouts.
On the day of his arrest, Werstine was located in a local dog park, where he was found using fraudulent identification. Despite the false documents, authorities were able to verify his identity through fingerprint analysis. He subsequently confessed to his real name and admitted to being on the run since 2005.
A federal source described Werstine as having managed to effectively disappear since the early 1990s, highlighting his ingenuity in avoiding capture. “He was a ghost since ‘94,” the source remarked, indicating how difficult it had been for law enforcement to track him down.
Following his arrest, Werstine was extradited back to the United States on May 9. He was handed over to authorities in Wayne County, where he is expected to face the long-awaited charges related to Barger’s death.
U.S. Marshal Owen Cypher commented on the seriousness of crimes like the one Werstine is accused of, stressing the agency’s commitment to bringing fugitives to justice regardless of the time elapsed. “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,” he stated.
Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Jimmy Allen echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of accountability in the community. He highlighted that Werstine’s apprehension not only serves to potentially bring closure to the family and friends of the victim but also reinforces the commitment to pursue those who evade justice.
Despite the passage of time since the original crime, this case serves as a reminder that law enforcement agencies remain resolute in their mission to bring fugitives to justice, no matter how long it takes or where they may escape. The details surrounding the alleged murder and the subsequent decades-long evasion will now come under renewed scrutiny as the legal process begins once again.